SBE Re-accredited by AACSB International

April 26, 2017

The SUNY Plattsburgh School of Business and Economics has been re-accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business International for another five years.

“External accreditation from AACSB serves as a testimony to the quality of our faculty and our programs,” said Dr. Rowena Ortiz-Walters, dean of the SBE. “AACSB is a wonderful accomplishment that benefits SUNY Plattsburgh’s current students, alumni and prospective students as only 5 percent of schools of business worldwide earn this distinction.” According to AACSB, there are 786 business schools in 53 countries and territories that have earned its accreditation, among the more notable are Harvard, Cornell, Purdue, Georgetown, Stanford, Columbia and New York University.

Accredited Since 2002

The School of Business and Economics earned its first AACSB accreditation in January 2002.

“The vision of the SUNY Plattsburgh School of Business and Economics is to be a premier provider of innovative and global business education recognized for teaching excellence among comprehensive colleges,” Ortiz-Walters said. “Since the last review, we have been focused on academic innovations, professional engagement and having impact. Attaining AACSB re-accreditation signals to the external community that we are one step closer to realizing this vision.”

The process for re-accreditation involves a visit from a peer review team, which in turn makes a recommendation to the Continuous Improvement Review Committee.

“It typically takes two months from the time the peer review team makes its recommendation for the Continuous Improvement Review Committee to make a recommendation and for the AACSB Board of Trustees to ratify the decision,” she said.

Long Review Process

But the re-accreditation process starts months before that. According to Robert D. Reid, executive vice president and chief accreditation officer of AACSB, “Achieving re-accreditation is a process of rigorous internal review, engagement with an AACSB-assigned mentor and peer review. During this multi-year continuous improvement review process, schools focus on developing and implementing a plan to align with AACSB’s accreditation standards.

“These standards require excellence in areas relating to strategic management and innovation; student, faculty and staff as active participants; learning and teaching; and academic and professional engagement,” he said.

“I want to extend a heartfelt thank you to all the faculty, staff and students in the SBE as well as the Dean’s Advisory Council for their various contributions since the last review. It is these very contributions that allow the school to meet the quality standards associated with extension of accreditation,” Ortiz-Walters said. “I am particularly grateful to Associate Dean Bob Christopherson, Assistant Dean Tara Studley, and Strategic Adviser to the Dean Jeff Gauthier for their leadership and support on this accreditation cycle. The SBE is also grateful for the continued support of President John Ettling and his administration.”