A&M International's College of Business Administration Seeking AACSB Accreditation

Calling it the next natural stage in the College's growth, Dr. John Kohl, Dean of Texas A&M International University's College of Business Administration and Graduate School of International Trade, said the College is now awaiting visitation by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) as part of its bid for accreditation by the organization.

"We've now entered the final stage of consideration for accreditation and expect a site visit this Spring. This is really the next natural stage in our development and we are hopeful that the team visiting will concur and recommend that our College be recognized with this prestigious accreditation," Dr. Kohl explained.

AASCB is the premier accrediting agency for bachelor's, masters and doctoral degree programs in business administration and accounting. Only 376 universities across the nation have been awarded accredited status, including 16 in Texas. International accreditation has only been awarded to 22 colleges and universities around the world. AACSB-accredited schools award 55 percent of all degrees in business and management education.

Dr. Ray Keck, provost and vice president for academic affairs, said the AACSB accreditation will further underscore the quality of the University's business program, and will also become a recruitment plus.

"This accreditation will confirm our commitment to all our stakeholders...students, faculty, administration, employers and community members, that our College faculty is adequately prepared to deliver a quality program, that the faculty is provided with resources appropriate for that delivery and that students are being appropriately prepared for the business environment of today. Securing this accreditation is a proven recruitment tool for other Colleges of Business Administration and we believe that this, in combination with our program and research strengths in international trade and business, will prove very attractive for students," Dr. Keck said.

Dr. Kohl explained that the AASCB review is comprehensive and occurs at multiple levels.

"A self-study is conducted and there are seven accreditation standards that the College must meet or exceed. The College must also have procedures in place to enable the school to continue to excel. The standards address mission and objectives, faculty composition and development, curriculum content and evaluation, instructional resources and responsibilities, students and intellectual contributions of the College," Kohl explained.

He noted that securing accreditation benefits all of the University's constituents, most importantly students who complete their program with the College.

"Accreditation demonstrates that the institution is not only committed to quality business education, but also to the philosophy of total quality management and continual improvement. The end result is a graduate who is better prepared to enter the community and utilize their education for the economic and social welfare of both employers and consumers. The graduate of the AACSB-accredited program will have a positive influence on the workplace and will make a difference in the future of a free market society," he concluded.

A&M International's College of Business Administration and Graduate School of International Trade offers six graduate degrees including the nation's first MBA in International Trade and Business Administration and an MBA in International Banking. Its Master of Science in Information Systems is among its most popular graduate programs. Seven undergraduate Programs are available, including BBAs in Marketing, Finance, Computer Information Systems and Management.

Average College enrollment includes 600 undergraduates and 250 graduate students. Many of the graduate students come to the University from over 35 different countries each semester.

Research units that are vital parts of the College's research strengths include the Center for the Study of Western Hemispheric Trade and the NAFTA Information Center. A new 58,000-square foot home for the Center for the Study of Western Hemispheric Trade is scheduled to open this Fall.

For additional information on the AACSB accreditation process for the College of Business Administration, please contact Dr. Kohl at 956.326.2480, visit offices in Pellegrino Hall 301 or email to jkohl@tamiu.edu.

University office hours are from 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. Monday-Friday.

Journalists who need additional information or help with media requests and interviews should contact the Office of Public Affairs and Information Services at pais@tamiu.edu