Contact: Maridith Geuder
Mississippi State's College of Business and Industry, including its School of Accountancy, is receiving a new stamp of approval from the international organization that reviews the academic programs in the field.
The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business recently reaffirmed accreditation for the college's bachelor's, master's and doctoral degree programs. The School of Accountancy, a major unit within the college, also has received separate reaccreditation.
"The rigorous process leading to reaccreditation assures our students that programs, faculty, curricula, delivery, and improvement processes are in place to provide an excellent preparation for their future careers," said Dean Sara M. Freedman.
Occurring at 10-year intervals, reaccreditation involves a well-documented self-evaluation, as well as in-depth analysis by a team of external peers, Freedman added.
First accredited in 1960, the MSU college--one of the oldest higher education programs of its kind in the Southeast--is among 400 member institutions that voluntarily request the professional review.
The accounting school is among only 160 separately accredited by the AACSB, said Danny P. Hollingsworth, professor and director of the school. "AACSB accreditation is recognized as a hallmark of excellence," he said. "Both our students and their future employers can have confidence in the quality of education Mississippi State University provides."
In addition to accountancy, the college's academic areas include finance and economics; management and information systems; marketing, quantitative analysis and business law; international business; and the professional golf management program.
The review cited several endeavors for special commendation, including the college's ability to gain private financial support to fund technology, a collaboration with the College of Arts and Sciences to establish an international business curriculum and a focus on enhancing requirements for graduation.
Special commendations for accounting included support from alumni and friends, faculty relationships with students and a strong campus chapter of the national accounting honorary Beta Alpha Psi.
The quality of a detailed self-study report and the leadership of Freedman and other administrators also were praised.
MSU's business college enrolls more than 2,600 undergraduate majors and 250 graduate students. Separately, the accounting school has 330 students seeking the bachelor of science degree; 45 pursuing master's and doctorates.
Faculty members have earned national awards for academic advising and been recognized by the MSU Alumni Association for undergraduate and graduate teaching.
The College of Business faculty includes a W.L. Giles Distinguished Professor of Accountancy, one of 14 at the university who have received the highest campus recognition given for teaching, research and service.