Through the work of AACSB’s Accreditation Quality Committee (AQC), changes to the business accreditation standards have been approved. The changes take three forms: (1) changes in Eligibility Criterion A, Standards 1, 2, 10, 15, 18, and 19 which require a vote of the AACSB Accreditation Council at the April business meeting at the International Conference and Annual Meeting in Orlando (a formal ballot in accordance with AACSB By-Laws will be issued in the near future); (2) changes approved to the supporting interpretive materials for which the AQC actions are final; (3) De Minima and editorial changes; and (4) transitional guidance.  Due to the vote in April, AQC agreed to delay implementation of all changes until 1 July 2009 so that all changes (subject to the April vote) are implemented on the same date. Again, transitional guidance is outlined in the document. A document detailing all changes is available for your review at http://www.aacsb.edu/accreditation/StandardsReport-Revised23Jan09.pdf.

We look forward to implementing these changes and discussing them at the AACSB Deans’ Conference, Annual Meeting, and in other forums. Thank you for your support of AACSB International and its continuous improvement efforts.

Jerry E. Trapnell
Executive Vice President and
Chief Accreditation Officer
AACSB International