AACSB International Accreditation Renewed for University of Scranton’s Kania School of Management
The University of Scranton’s Kania School of Management is among less that five percent of business schools worldwide with accreditation by the rigorous standards of AACSB International.
AACSB International (The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business) has extended accreditation for the undergraduate and master’s programs in business offered by The Kania School of Management at The University of Scranton for five more years through 2021. Less than five percent of business colleges worldwide - 755 schools of business in 51 countries – hold AACSB accreditation, which is widely considered the gold standard mark of excellence for business schools. Scranton is among just 26 AACSB International accredited business schools in Pennsylvania.
The process to maintain AACSB accreditation involves a meticulous review of rigorous comprehensive standards to ensure that the business school is meeting its mission, according to Michael Mensah, Ph.D., dean of the University’s Kania School of Management (KSOM). Dean Mensah explained that the AACSB accreditation review is not a mechanical process, but rather one that maps back to the school’s mission and seeks to validate for stakeholders that a business school is successfully accomplishing its stated goals.
“It provides an assurance that the school is doing what it claims to want to accomplish,” said Dean Mensah. “We are a Jesuit business school informed by our Jesuit mission. The development of independent thinking, social justice, integrity and community service are fully integrated among our learning goals, which are strongly supported by our faculty. We strive to serve our mission well.”
Dr. Mensah said KSOM has implemented numerous transformative programming improvements since 1996, when the school was first accredited by AACSB, including innovative additions such as entrepreneurship, online MBA and Master of Accountancy programs. Co-curricular enhancements such as a four-year professional development ‘Passsport’ program, a mentoring program, and a resident director of internships ensure that students graduate with outstanding professional skills and great job placement outcomes.
“With the renewal of our accreditation, we are celebrating 20 years of documented continuous improvement through innovation, assessment and peer review,” said Dean Mensah.
Undergraduate KSOM programs include bachelor’s degree programs in accounting, business administration, economics, electronic commerce, entrepreneurship, finance, international business, management, marketing and operations and information management. KSOM also offers undergraduates minors in general business accounting, accounting information systems, economics, electronic commerce, finance, management of people and teams, management of structures and systems, and operations management; as well as an associate’s degree in business.
Graduate level KSOM programs include a master’s in accountancy and a master of business administration (MBA) in general management or with a specialization in accounting, finance, international business, management information systems, marketing and operations management.
Combined bachelor’s and master’s level programs include accounting BS/MBA, operations management BS/MBA and finance BS/MBA, as well as accelerated programs in a number of areas.
The University also offers online MBA programs in general management or with specialization in healthcare management, operations management, enterprise resource planning or international business and online certificate programs in enterprise resource planning and supply chain management.
The University has been nationally recognized by multiple publications for quality and value, including The Princeton Review’s “Best Colleges” and “Best Business Schools” guidebooks; U.S. News & World Report’s America’s “Best Graduate Schools,” “Best Online Programs” and “Best Colleges” rankings; Forbes and The Center for College Affordability and Productivity “America’s Top Colleges” rankings and MONEY magazine’s “Best Colleges for your Money” publication, and rankings done by The Economist and Brookings Metropolitan Policy Program regarding the “value-added” contribution colleges make to earnings of its graduates, among others.
The University will be recognized for successfully completing its five-year review process at the 2016 AACSB International Conference and Annual Meeting on April 3-6 in Boston.
Founded in 1916, AACSB International is the longest serving global accrediting body for business schools that offer undergraduate, master’s level and doctoral degrees in business. Its mission is to advance “quality management education worldwide through accreditation, thought leadership and value-added services,” according to its website.
