School of Business Earns AACSB International Accreditation

Southern Connecticut State University’s School of Business has achieved a significant milestone by earning accreditation from AACSB International, the world’s oldest and largest global accrediting body for business schools. AACSB accreditation is a premier mark of quality that is held by only five percent of business schools worldwide.

“The School of Business is happy to join its academic peers that have demonstrated their commitment to overall high-quality management education and a core conviction to advance their mission by way of attaining this distinctive credential,” said School of Business Dean Jess Boronico. “I wish to personally recognize the significant contributions of former Dean, Dr. Ellen Durnin, and former accreditation coordinator, Dr. Robert Forbus, for their leadership and accomplishments towards this achievement, and, more recently, Dr. Kauther Badr, as our current accreditation coordinator, and Alison Wall, as our Director of Assurance of Learning. I also wish to recognize the significant individual and joint contributions of the School of Business faculty, staff, students, alumni, and community, including institutional colleagues. Initial AACSB Accreditation serves as a testimonial to what is attainable through collaboration and a belief in a common mission.”

The accreditation is a testament to Southern’s commitment to excellence in all areas of business education, including teaching, research, curriculum development, and student learning. AACSB accreditation ensures continuous improvement and provides focus for schools to deliver on their mission, innovate, and drive impact. Southern’s School of Business has successfully undergone a rigorous review process conducted by their peers in the business education community, ensuring that they have the resources, credentials, and commitment needed to provide students with a first-rate, future-focused business education.

The timing of the accreditation is also significant, as the School of Business is preparing to open a new building that will provide state-of-the-art facilities for students and faculty. The new four-story, 60,000-square-foot building will include nine general classrooms, as well as several specialized classrooms and lecture halls. It will also feature a behavioral lab area with an observation room, a community room that could seat 100 people, a large classroom and administrative suite for the MBA program, and an area designated for financial market and data analytics. It will also be the first building constructed by the state to be net-zero in terms of carbon footprint – powered by energy from geothermal wells and solar panels.

Furthermore, Southern Connecticut State University President Joe Bertolino sees the newly accredited School of Business as a valuable resource to the local and regional business community. “A lot of companies, corporations, and organizations are looking to train and retrain their employees,” Bertolino said. “The school provides an opportunity to partner with regional and state entities to bring people up to speed or train them to come in.”

With AACSB accreditation and a new state-of-the-art facility, Southern’s School of Business is well-positioned to provide a world-class business education to its students, as well as serve as a valuable resource for the local and regional business community. The accreditation is a major achievement for Southern, and a testament to the dedication and hard work of the administration, faculty, staff, and students of the School of Business.