Barry University’s School of Business among top five percent in world thanks to continued accreditation by AACSB International
Barry University’s Andreas School of Business received their continued accreditation through 2018 by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB International) – the maximum allowed under the guidelines. Barry is one of four AACSB-accredited universities in South Florida and the only AACSB-accredited Catholic university in Florida and in all the southeastern states east of New Orleans.
Less than five percent of the world's 13,000 business programs earn AACSB International accreditation – representing the highest standard of achievement for business schools worldwide – and only about a third of all business schools in the United States are accredited by AACSB International, the world's premier accrediting agency for bachelor's and graduate degree programs in business administration. About 20% of the universities associated with the Independent Colleges & Universities of Florida (ICUF) have AACSB accredited business programs.
The findings were released in December concluding the AACSB accreditation process, which included an on-campus site team review in November 2012. While on campus, AACSB representatives met with faculty, students, field educators and curriculum committees, as well as university administrators. When releasing their findings, they were particularly impressed with how the School of Business has identified a clear direction to create and deliver long-term stakeholder value in South Florida’s “unusually competitive” location for business programs and commended the faculty and staff on its commitment and strong desire to establish excellent connections with students.
Another highlight from the report was the school’s focus on engaging the local and global business community, through the Barry University’s Community and Economic Development program (BICED) that actively engages for-profit and non-for-profit organizations in under-resourced communities and exposes students to entrepreneurship and ethics throughout their experience at the undergraduate and graduate level.
Accreditation is a process whereby an education institution – or program within this institution – is assessed for educational quality based on nationally developed standards, and serves as a public statement of these standards and commitment to educational quality. The School of Business has been accredited since 2003.
AACSB International representatives reviewed every aspect of the school and the business education including the curriculum, faculty, goals, objectives, syllabi, library services, academic computing, financial aid and student services as well as the physical plant.
Barry University’s Andreas School Business serves more than 400 students, from freshman to senior year with 21 full-time faculty and no teaching assistants. The school features an accessible, highly-experienced faculty and class sizes that average fewer than 20 students. The school also offers a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a choice of five majors, a Master of Business Administration with a choice of six specializations, a Master of Science in Accounting and a Master of Science in Management.
This designation acknowledges the place of the Andreas School of Business among a peer group of distinguished business administration programs worldwide.
“This is a great honor for the school and the university since AACSB accreditation is the hallmark of excellence in business education. All of us at the business school work tirelessly to make the student experience the number one priority. We are extremely happy to maintain this important accreditation as it gives us strength to continue providing a world-class education and developing responsible business leaders.” said Dr. Tomislav Mandakovic, dean of the business school.