UW-W College of Business & Economics is First American Business School to Earn Global Impact Certification

Posted on: September 8, 2026

Stacie Collins, outreach program coordinator in the Office of Continuing Education, promotes the UW-Whitewater doctor of business administration degree. The first in-person AMA Regional Marketing Conference since 2019 returned to Hyland Hall on Friday, Oct. 7, 2022, with students from 28 universities coming to campus to network, hear speakers and compete in sales and marketing competitions. (UW-Whitewater Photos/Craig Schreiner)

Written by Jessica Berge | Photo by Craig Schreiner

The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater College of Business and Economics has made history as the first business school in the United States to earn the Business School Impact System [BSIS] label from European Foundation for Management Development Global, one of the world’s most prestigious business education accreditation bodies.

The College of Business and Economics, Wisconsin’s largest business school, joins an elite group of 105 schools worldwide recognized for independently verified, measurable societal impact.

The BSIS label is awarded to business schools that can demonstrate — through independently verified, evidence-based assessment — measurable impact across seven dimensions: financial, educational, business development, intellectual, regional ecosystem, societal, and image. Approximately 105 schools across 30 countries hold the distinction; the College of Business and Economics at UW-Whitewater is the first in the United States to be awarded.

“This is not a ranking or a self-reported award,” said Paul Ambrose, dean of the College of Business and Economics. “This is the result of an independent, globally recognized process that required us to prove in a data-backed manner that what we do in this college transforms lives and strengthens our region. We are extraordinarily proud to be first in the United States to meet that standard.”

“UW-Whitewater has long been recognized for academic excellence in business, and we have proudly leveraged that expertise to help our students, our communities, and our workforce thrive,” said Chancellor Corey King. “This certification affirms that longstanding commitment at the highest global level and further distinguishes UW-Whitewater as a national model for what regional public universities can achieve through academic excellence, innovation, and meaningful community impact.”

The assessment, conducted by EFMD experts in May 2026, evaluated the college across its 12-county primary impact zone, a region that spans southeastern Wisconsin and northern Illinois and is home to 76% of the college’s student body. Key findings included:

$423 million in total annual regional economic impact, including direct, indirect, and induced effects
75% of graduating students take their first job within the region
11,400 college alumni actively working within the zone
98% employment and graduate school placement rate
$3 million in new business investments generated by the Small Business Development Center in a single year
Recognition as the 2025 Enactus USA National Champion, with student-led community revitalization generating approximately $1 million in local economic impact
Federal partnerships with Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), and the National Science Foundation (NSF) on cybersecurity workforce development
A 15-year consecutive national championship streak by the American Marketing Association collegiate chapter
Wisconsin’s only AACSB-accredited DBA program

UW-Whitewater’s College of Business and Economics holds dual accreditation from the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business, the global standard-setting body for business education, in both business and accounting — a distinction shared by fewer than 1% of business schools globally. It is now the only U.S. institution to add EFMD BSIS certification to those credentials.

The BSIS certification must be renewed on a three-year cycle, ensuring CoBE’s impact is continuously measured, documented, and improved.

For the full BSIS impact report and additional information, visit uww.edu/cobe or the EFMD BSIS page at efmdglobal.org.

About EFMD Global

EFMD Global, based in Brussels, Belgium, is one of the world’s leading accreditation bodies for business education, with membership spanning more than 900 organizations in 90 countries. The Business School Impact System (BSIS) is EFMD’s comprehensive impact assessment tool, evaluating schools across more than 130 indicators. Learn more at efmdglobal.org/bsis.

About the UW-Whitewater College of Business and Economics

Wisconsin’s largest business school, the college offers bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral programs to more than 5,000 students. The college holds dual AACSB accreditation in business and accounting and is the only institution in Wisconsin to offer an AACSB-accredited Doctorate of Business Administration. Learn more at uww.edu/cobe.