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The IACBE is committed to reliable, public disclosure of accreditation information. The following information pertaining to accreditation may be helpful.
What is program accreditation, and how does it differ from institutional accreditation?
What does it mean for a business program to be accredited by the IACBE?
How long does the accreditation process take? For how long is program accreditation valid?
How can I learn more about the quality of an IACBE member’s business programs?
What’s the difference between an individual member, educational member, candidate for accreditation, and accredited member?
Where can I find a summary of the accreditation decisions made by the IACBE?
I’ve got a complaint against an IACBE-accredited business program. What should I do about it?
What is program accreditation, and how does it differ from institutional accreditation?
Institutional accreditation involves the examination of an entire college or university and all of its functions. In the United States, institutional accreditation is carried out by the six regional accrediting bodies and a number of national accrediting bodies that have been recognized by the United States Department of Education. Institutional accreditation by a recognized accrediting body is required in order for students to have access to federal funds. Outside of the United States, most countries have government-based institutional accreditation.
Program accreditation, such as that provided by the IACBE, involves a specific and comprehensive evaluation of particular programs offered by a college or university. Programmatic accreditation is available in many different disciplines. The IACBE provides a process by which colleges and universities can earn program accreditation for their business programs.
What does it mean for a business program to be accredited by the IACBE?
In its accreditation reviews, the IACBE implements a quality assurance process that involves a comprehensive set of accreditation principles pertaining to academic resource measures, educational processes, and outcomes assessment. In order for its business programs to be accredited by the IACBE, an academic business unit must demonstrate compliance with these principles. The nine major areas covered by these principles are:
1. Outcomes Assessment
2. Strategic Planning
3. Curriculum
4. Faculty
5. Scholarly and Professional Activities
6. Resources
7. Internal and External Relationships
8. International Business Education
9. Educational Innovation
Complete information pertaining to the IACBE’s accreditation principles is found in the IACBE’s Accreditation Manual.
In order for a business program to become accredited, the academic business unit that offers the program must first become a Candidate for Accreditation. It must then produce a self study that addresses each of the IACBE’s accreditation principles. A team of highly-trained peer reviewers then visits the institution and produces a report detailing the extent of compliance with the IACBE’s accreditation principles. The self study, site-visit report, and the academic business unit’s response to the site-visit report are reviewed by the IACBE Board of Commissioners. In order for the Commissioners to grant accreditation, the business programs must be in compliance with the IACBE’s accreditation principles. The Commissioners also identify areas of required improvement, which are called “Notes.” Academic business units are required to address the issues identified in the notes and to report annually on their progress in ameliorating the specified deficiencies.
To be accredited, therefore, means that an institution and its academic business unit have made a commitment to excellence in business education, and that their business programs have been evaluated by independent, external reviewers and have complied with the IACBE’s accreditation principles.
How long does the accreditation process take? For how long is program accreditation valid?
Once an academic business unit has been accepted into candidacy, it has up to five years to complete the accreditation process and achieve accreditation for its business programs. The process typically takes between 2 and 4 years. When the IACBE Board of Commissioners grants accreditation, it is valid for a period of up to 7 years. At that time, the academic business unit prepares a new self study, undergoes a new site visit, and is reviewed for reaffirmation of accreditation by the Commissioners.
How can I learn more about the quality of an IACBE member’s business programs?
If a business program is accredited by the IACBE, an academic business unit has demonstrated that the program complies with the IACBE’s accreditation principles. To learn what programs are accredited, the date of the next site visit, and other details pertaining to an accredited member, go to the alphabetical listing of members, click on the appropriate letter of the alphabet for that institution, find the institution in the listing, and click on the “membership status” link for that institution. Doing so will bring up the membership or accreditation status information for that institution’s business programs.
What’s the difference between an individual member, educational member, candidate for accreditation, and accredited member?
Individual Members are those individuals who serve as administrators or faculty in institutions of higher education not holding other membership in the IACBE or who represent other higher education organizations supportive of the mission and goals of the IACBE. Individual members have no vote in the Assembly, and their institutions’ business programs are not accredited or eligible for accreditation while they hold the status of individual members.
Educational Members are those academic business units that have met the IACBE’s requirements for educational membership as outlined in the IACBE’s Accreditation Process Manual.
Candidates for Accreditation are those educational members of the IACBE that have met the requirements for candidacy as outlined in the IACBE’s Accreditation Process Manual, and are actively working toward accreditation. The candidacy process may take up to five years. The business programs of a Candidate for Accreditation are not accredited. Therefore, the only statement pertaining to the quality of the institution’s business programs that can be made by the IACBE is that the institution and its academic business unit have indicated a commitment to excellence in business education and are actively pursuing IACBE accreditation.
Accredited Members are those educational members of the IACBE that have business programs accredited by the IACBE. For information on the requirements for program accreditation, please see the IACBE’s Accreditation Manual.
Where can I find a summary of the accreditation decisions made by the IACBE?
A summary of the decisions made by the IACBE Board of Commissioners at each of its meetings can be accessed by clicking here. Alternatively, to learn about the status of a particular institution’s business programs, go to the alphabetical listing of members, click on the appropriate letter of the alphabet for that institution, find the institution in the listing, and click on the “membership status” link for that institution. Doing so will bring up the membership or accreditation status information for that institution’s business programs.
I’ve got a complaint against an IACBE-accredited business program. What should I do about it?
The IACBE has developed a Procedure for Third-Party Complaints. This procedure is designed to provide the information necessary to determine whether further investigation by the IACBE is warranted, and to protect the rights of students, parents, IACBE members, the IACBE, and the public. This procedure must be followed in order for the IACBE to investigate a complaint.
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