AACSB Joins CEO Action for Diversity & Inclusion™ President’s Circle

Leaders in education working to drive progress in diversity and inclusion.

TAMPA, Fla. (November 10, 2017)—AACSB International—The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB), the world’s largest business education network, today joined a group of presidents from academic institutions and associations as a signatory of the CEO Action for Diversity & Inclusion™ (CEO Action) President’s Circle. The newly formed Circle will work to translate the pledge of CEO Action, the largest CEO-driven business commitment to advance diversity and inclusion within the workplace, into actions that can be taken to engage faculty, staff, and students to drive progress in diversity and inclusion.

“To successfully develop the leaders of tomorrow, colleges and universities must continue to create impact through innovation, collaboration, and knowledge sharing, and an appreciation of diverse perspectives and elimination of unconscious biases are imperative to those goals. In our role as connector within the business education sphere, AACSB is proud to serve as an active champion of diversity and inclusion globally,” said Thomas R. Robinson, president and chief executive officer of AACSB International. “Now, as part of the CEO Action’s President’s Circle, AACSB looks forward to partnering with leading businesses and higher education institutions to outline ways that both industries can leverage diversity to cultivate a more just, inclusive, and global society.”

In its role as “connector” within the business education community, AACSB is actively working to help its member schools distill value from the diversity that exists in the world and create new platforms where new perspectives can be shared, through actions including its first-ever Diversity and Inclusion Summit and the appointment of a chief diversity and inclusion advocate. Now, as a signatory of the CEO Action, the organization has the ability to accelerate the work it has begun while underscoring AACSB’s belief that by sharing global, diverse perspectives, we are all stronger.

Joining the CEO Action President’s Circle also supports AACSB’s goals in the area of diversity and inclusion to:

• Drive advocacy and awareness of diversity and inclusion issues and effective practice including through ongoing development of the professional development portfolio.
• Foster the development of a data- and research-driven approach to support advocacy of diversity and inclusion globally.
• Explore and develop relationships and partnerships that enhance diversity and inclusion in the business education ecosystem.

In its partnership with leading businesses and higher education institutions, AACSB will encourage, identify, and share ways that diversity and inclusion can be leveraged to cultivate a more just and inclusive global society. The President’s Circle will continue developing its framework in the coming months in preparation for the first college commitments in early 2018.

Higher education institutions that take the CEO Action pledge will raise awareness of their leadership in addressing diversity and inclusion on campus, will educate students and faculty on the importance of addressing the potential for unconscious bias, and will demonstrate the link and collaboration between the higher education and business communities on a critical issue.

Additional signatories participating in the President’s Circle include: the University of San Francisco (chair), Bentley University, Binghamton University, Lehigh University, Miami University of Ohio, National HBCU Deans Roundtable, Oregon State University, the University of Dayton, and Xavier University of Louisiana.

For a more comprehensive understanding of AACSB’s approach to diversity and inclusion, visit aacsb.edu/about/diversity.

About AACSB International
As the world’s largest business education alliance, AACSB International—The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) connects educators, students, and business to achieve a common goal: to create the next generation of great leaders. Synonymous with the highest standards of excellence since 1916, AACSB provides quality assurance, business education intelligence, and professional development services to nearly 1,600 member organizations and more than 790 accredited business schools worldwide. With its global headquarters in Tampa, Florida, USA; Europe, Middle East, and Africa headquarters in Amsterdam, the Netherlands; and Asia Pacific headquarters in Singapore, AACSB’s mission is to foster engagement, accelerate innovation, and amplify impact in business education. For more information, visit aacsb.edu.

About CEO Action for Diversity & Inclusion™
CEO Action for Diversity & Inclusion™ is the largest CEO-driven business commitment to advance diversity and inclusion within the workplace. Bringing together more than 330 CEOs of America’s leading organizations and universities, the commitment outlines actions that signatories pledge to take to cultivate a workplace and culture where diverse perspectives and experiences are welcomed and respected, employees feel comfortable and encouraged to discuss diversity and inclusion, and where best known—and unsuccessful—actions can be shared across organizations. Learn more at CEOAction.com and connect with us on Facebook: CEO Action for Diversity & Inclusion and Twitter: @CEOAction.

The CEO Action for Diversity & Inclusion™ is led by a steering committee of CEOs and leaders from Accenture, BCG, Deloitte US, The Executive Leadership Council, EY, General Atlantic, KPMG, New York Life, Procter & Gamble, and PwC. The coalition represents nearly 85 industries, all 50 U.S. States, and millions of employees globally.