Collegiate Institutions Earn AACSB International Accounting and Business Accreditation TAMPA, FL (September 11, 2008) ― AACSB International announces today that Marshall University has achieved initial accounting accreditation for its business school. The university’s achievement of initial accounting accreditation raises the total number of institutions that hold accounting accreditation to 169, and the number of institutions holding business accreditation remains at 555. Founded in 1916, AACSB International is the longest serving, and largest global accrediting body for business schools that offer undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral degrees in business and accounting. Additionally, AACSB announces that Augusta State University maintains its business accreditation, and both the University at Buffalo, State University of New York, and The University of Akron maintain their accounting accreditation. As required by AACSB standards, all accredited schools must go through a peer review every five years in order to maintain their accreditation. “AACSB commends the faculty, deans, directors, and administrative staffs of each institution for their exemplary work in helping their schools earn the highest achievement in business school accreditation,” said John J. Fernandes, president and chief executive officer of AACSB International. “We send our heartiest congratulations to our newly accredited schools and those that maintained their accreditation, and wish them the best for the future.” Achieving accreditation is a process of rigorous internal review, evaluation, and adjustment and can take several years to complete. During these years, the school develops and implements a plan to meet the 21 AACSB standards requiring a high quality teaching environment, a commitment to continuous improvement, and curricula responsive to the needs of business. Accounting accreditation further requires the satisfaction of an additional set of 15 standards that are specific to the discipline and profession of accounting. “It takes a great deal of commitment and determination to earn AACSB accreditation,” said Jerry Trapnell, executive vice president and chief accreditation officer of AACSB International. “These schools have met rigorous standards of excellence, as well as made a commitment to ongoing improvement that ensures that they will deliver a high quality education to students.” About AACSB International AACSB International is an association of more than 1,100 educational institutions, business and other organizations in 70 countries that are dedicated to the advancement of management education worldwide. In addition to service as the premier accreditation body for institutions offering undergraduate, master’s and doctoral degrees in business and accounting, the association also conducts a wide array of conferences and seminar programs at various location around the world. Through BestBizSchools.com, AACSB provides a global resource center for prospective business students. www.aacsb.edu ###