UW-Whitewater Celebrates 50 years of AACSB Accreditation

Posted on: July 11, 2024

Whitewater, Wisconsin (July 8, 2024)—AACSB International (AACSB) has announced that the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater has earned five more years of business and accounting education accreditation. This marks the 50th year of consecutive AACSB business accreditation for the university and its College of Business and Economics (CoBE).

AACSB has 1,026 accredited institutions in over 65 countries and territories and 194 institutions with AACSB accreditation for accounting programs. Achieving this milestone ensures greater access to high-quality business education for learners and for businesses seeking top talent.

“AACSB congratulates the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater on achieving AACSB accreditation,” said Stephanie Bryant, executive vice president and global chief accreditation officer at AACSB. “The commitment to earning accreditation is a true reflection of the school’s dedication—not only to its students, alumni network, and greater business community—but to society as a whole.”

Achieving AACSB accreditation is a mission-driven, rigorous process that includes an in-depth assessment of internal activities. It is a peer-reviewed evaluation focused on continuous improvement. During this multiyear path, schools focus on developing and implementing a plan to achieve their mission and align with AACSB’s accreditation standards. These principles-based standards require excellence in areas relating to strategic management and innovation, research, teaching and learning, and making the region better through business education.

Timothy J. Hyland Hall. Home of the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater College of Business
and Economics. Photo credit: UW-WHITEWATER PHOTO/NICK POOK

“This year UW-Whitewater’s College of Business and Economics is celebrating 110 years of business education, 25 years of online education, and now 50 years of continuous AACSB business accreditation. Whether online or on-campus, freshman to doctoral students, the College of Business and Economics helps students achieve their dreams for a better future” said Dean Paul Ambrose. “Being Wisconsin’s largest business school is no coincidence. With AACSB accreditation in both business and accounting, CoBE ranks in the top 2% of business schools globally for program quality. Whitewater proudly accepts 97% of applicants, and CoBE graduates boast a 99% job placement rate.”

“It’s been an incredible year of milestones for our College of Business and Economics,” said UW-Whitewater Chancellor Corey A. King. “Dean Ambrose and the faculty and staff work hard to create a world-class experience for our students, and our 50 years of AACSB accreditation are proof of the college’s continued culture of transformative education. I’d like to congratulate our business school students, faculty, and staff – past and present – who made this achievement possible. We see you, and we thank you.”

Per 2022 data, of all Wisconsin public comprehensive universities, UW-Whitewater has the largest population of underrepresented minority students, is number one in total aid, and graduates the greatest percent of students in six years or less (Universities of Wisconsin standard graduation measure).

About the College of Business and Economics

The college ranked No. 1 in the state in the 2024 U.S. News and World Report review of online programs. UW-Whitewater is home to Wisconsin’s top-ranked single school in the following categories: