Spears Business re-accreditation approved for another six years by top accrediting body

Monday, July 15, 2024

Media Contact: Stephen Howard | Manager of Communications | 405-744-4363 | Stephen.Howard@okstate.edu

Oklahoma State University’s Spears School of Business remains among the world’s top business schools offering business degrees with the recent extension of accreditation by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) International.

OSU’s business school has been accredited by AACSB International since 1958, and this month’s announcement extends the accreditation for a six-year period through 2030. The AACSB distinction is a hallmark of business education excellence and places Spears Business among an elite group of institutions around the world as only 6% of business schools worldwide have achieved AACSB accreditation.

“AACSB accreditation demonstrates our commitment to offering a high-quality business education to our students,” said Dr. Jim Payne, dean of Spears Business. “The AACSB review team comprised of peer institutions were quite impressed by both the breadth and depth of our operations and in preparing our students for successful careers. Their thoughtful feedback will certainly contribute to further elevating our profile as a premier business school. I want to thank all our students, faculty, staff and alumni for their time and energy in preparing for the accreditation process and the visit.”

The OSU School of Accounting was also affirmed for re-accreditation by the AACSB. The accounting accreditation is supplemental to that of the business school. According to the AACSB, there are 1,026 business institutions in more than 65 countries and territories that have earned AACSB accreditation, but only 194 institutions hold the additional, specialized AACSB accreditation for their accounting programs.

To receive AACSB re-accreditation, Spears Business was required to undergo a meticulous internal review and evaluation process. The rigorous process includes an in-depth assessment of internal activities, mentorship with an AACSB advisor and a peer-reviewed evaluation focused on continuous improvement. During this multiyear path, the school focused on developing and implementing a plan to achieve their mission and align with AACSB’s accreditation standards. These principles-based standards require excellence in areas relating to strategic management and innovation, research, and teaching and learning.

The school’s extension of accreditation period was approved by the AACSB International board of director in June after a February visit to the Stillwater campus by a peer review team of business school deans and industry professionals.

“The reaffirmation of AACSB accreditation is a testament to the quality of faculty and staff, the curriculum and the exceptional learning environment for students as they prepare for their careers,” said Spears Business alum Joe Eastin, executive chairman and board chair of ISN. “Many thanks to the alumni and industry partners for their support and the leadership team for a successful peer review.” 

Founded in 1916, AACSB International is the longest-serving global accrediting body for business schools that offer undergraduate, master’s or doctoral degrees in business and accounting. AACSB accreditation is considered the highest standard for quality in business education.

To learn more about Spears Business, visit the school’s website. Learn more about AACSB International accreditation by visiting the accreditation section of the AACSB website.