Kansas State University

MANHATTAN -- The College of Business Administration at Kansas State University has earned an extension to its Association for the Advancement of Collegiate Schools of Business International accreditation for both its business and accounting programs.

The association, or AASCB, was founded in 1916 and is the longest serving global accrediting body for business schools. Association accreditation is the hallmark of excellence in business education, and has been earned by less than 5 percent of the world's business programs.

"We are honored to have our AACSB accreditation extended," said Ali Malekzadeh, Edgerley family dean of the College of Business Administration. "It shows that we are providing our students with quality business education and demonstrates the excellence of our faculty and staff."

The accreditation extension process included submitting a report detailing the college's strategic plan, curriculum, learning expectations and faculty credentials, as well as a two-day campus visit by a group of two deans and two accounting department heads from other Association for the Advancement of Collegiate Schools of Business International-accredited schools of business. The visit included interviews with faculty, staff and students and participation in regularly scheduled lectures.

The college was first accredited by the association in 1973, receiving accreditation for its undergraduate business program. By 1980 the Master of Business Administration and the Master of Accountancy programs also received accreditation. In 1988 the department of accounting received separate accreditation, an honor given to a select number of programs. Since then, the college has maintained accreditation through the standard reviews.

"We appreciate the time and effort put forth by the AACSB review team, as well as the hard work from faculty and staff to make the college a standard of quality," Malekzadeh said.