Understanding the New AACSB Standards

Cynthia L. Krom, PhD, CPA, and Alexander K. Buchholz, MBA, CPA

After several years of study and discussion with employer organizations and the academic community, the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) has developed a new set of accreditation standards, which became effective in 2013 with a four-year transition period. The AACSB, the leading accrediting body for business schools, has more than 700 member institutions worldwide, 34 of which are in New York State. Many accounting firms actively seek to hire graduates from AACSB-accredited schools, and the most prestigious accounting programs, as ranked by either U.S. News or Bloomberg Businessweek, are all at AACSB-accredited schools.