Grove College of Business receives international reaccreditation
The John L. Grove College of Business at Shippensburg University has again earned the prestigious international reaccreditation from AACSB International — The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business.
AACSB International today (Jan. 5) announced that 11 colleges or universities earned initial accreditation while 56 colleges and universities, including Shippensburg’s Grove College, were reaccredited.
“Since it first earned accreditation in 1981, Grove College has been among the best business schools not only in Pennsylvania, but in the nation,” said President Bill Ruud. “By maintaining the quality needed to ensure reaccreditation, the faculty and leaders of the college also ensure our students that their degree is recognized nationally and that their education is first rate. I congratulate everyone in the college for this well-deserved honor.”
According to Dr. Barbara Lyman, provost and senior vice president of academic affairs, “Successful reaffirmation of accreditation for the John L. Grove College of Business University underscored the reasons for the college’s ranking among the best business schools in the nation. As provost, I appreciate the collective contributions of the faculty, staff, and students to this important process of continuous improvement."
Dr. John Kooti, Grove College dean, said, “AACSB accreditation means that the John L Grove College of Business has met the standard of excellence for business programs at the undergraduate and graduate levels, and we have the highest quality business classes, faculty, research, students, and graduates. We provide our students with the knowledge and skills that employers require to be globally competitive. Our faculty also remain very active in research in order to provide students the most up to date business knowledge, skills, and applications. I am very proud of our faculty, students, administrators, alumni, advisory board, and friends of the University and the College of Business for their dedication to excellence.”
In 1981, Grove College became the first school in the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education and the ninth college overall in Pennsylvania to become internationally accredited by AACSB International. The college was established in 1971 and has earned a reputation as one of the premier business schools in the Mid-Atlantic Region. In September, U.S. News and World Report recognized the college as among the best business programs in the nation in its “Best Colleges Specialty Rankings: Best Undergraduate Business Programs” category. It was one of only 17 colleges or universities in Pennsylvania to be recognized and the only university in the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education to make the 2011 list of nationally ranked business programs. The college celebrated three major milestones in 2007: 70 years of teaching business, 35 years since the College of Business was established and 25 years that the business programs maintained AACSB accreditation.
According to its mission statement: “The John L Grove College of Business of Shippensburg University is committed to being an outstanding business school in the Mid-Atlantic region by providing a quality teaching and learning environment for undergraduate and graduate students. The dynamic curriculum and related professional activities are coordinated to prepare our students for a technologically advanced and global business environment, to engage in life-long learning, and to become productive and ethical members of a diverse society. Excellence in teaching and high standards of intellectual contribution are supported by providing faculty with professional development and research opportunities to create and share knowledge for the benefit of our students, the University, and academic and professional communities.”
Founded in 1916, AACSB International is the longest serving global accrediting body for business schools that offer undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral degrees in business and accounting. According to AACSB International, less than five percent of schools of business worldwide have earned this distinguished hallmark of excellence in management education. According to AACSB International, to maintain accreditation a business program must undergo a rigorous internal review every five years, at which the program must demonstrate its continued commitment to the 21 quality standards relating to faculty qualification, strategic management of resources, interactions of faculty and students, as well as a commitment to continuous improvement and achievement of learning goals in degree programs.