CBA earns continued AACSB accreditation

When Central Michigan University’s College of Business received word last month about its AACSB reaccreditation, it wasn’t just good news, it was validation of years of hard work that places CMU among an exclusive club of fewer than 1,000 business schools worldwide. 

The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business granted the college another six-year accreditation cycle, confirming its status in the top 6% of business schools globally that meet the organization’s demanding standards. 

“Only 900 business schools out of several thousand worldwide are accredited,” said Chris Moberg, dean of the College of Business. “It’s essentially a quality control check on the value and the impact of the education that you’re providing.” 

From struggle to model program 

Perhaps no achievement illustrates the college’s commitment to excellence better than its transformation of the assurance of learning program. What was once a weakness has become a showcase that other institutions want to emulate. 

“Two cycles ago, which would be 10 years ago, in our report, we had been told that our assurance of learning process can be improved,” said Misty Bennett, associate dean CBA. “We totally changed it, and then five years later, got a commendation for it, and were told it was exceptional.” The turnaround didn’t stop there. During this latest review, evaluators told the college that “our undergraduate assurance of learning process could be a model program,” Bennett said. 

This component ensures students receive the education they’re promised. “It really is, from our College of Business standpoint, quality assurance,” Bennett said. “It’s our way of assuring that we’re doing a good job.” 

Staying ahead of the curve 

The college doesn’t wait for trends, it creates them. Faculty recently completed a three-year curriculum revision cycle incorporating data analytics and professional development skills like leadership and teamwork. Now they’re already working on the next evolution. 

“We’re trying to make sure we are on the cutting edge, that we’re leading the trends,” Bennett said. The college launched another curriculum revision this summer to integrate artificial intelligence across programs. This forward-thinking approach impressed the AACSB team, who evaluated the college’s performance over five years, from fall 2019 through spring 2024. 

Real benefits for students 

The accreditation translates into tangible advantages for graduates entering the job market. “I think absolutely for our students, an outcome of having the accreditation is that employers love it,” Bennett said. “It’s something that they are going to be proud to see that they have.” 

“When employers are looking at where they want to recruit students from, they’re going to want to go to places where they know the business education is good,” Moberg said. Students also graduate knowing they’re prepared for real-world challenges, not just theoretical concepts.  

Looking forward 

Rather than slowing down, college leaders are focused on what comes next. Three major initiatives are underway: updating core curriculum, developing programs tailored for adult learners, and expanding support services to ensure every student thrives. “We don’t want to sit still, we want to keep improving,” Moberg said. 

This commitment to progress aligns closely with AACSB's standards, which prioritize continuous improvement over perfection. “Accreditors want to see that you have a plan,” Bennett said. “That you’re always striving to do better.” 

For CMU students, faculty, and alumni, reaccreditation affirms the strength of their degree, and the forward momentum of the college.