College's business, accounting degree programs retain accreditation

The B. I. Moody III College of Business Administration at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette has maintained accreditation for its business and accounting degree programs.

The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business accredited both programs. Less than 5 percent of business programs in the world have earned AACSB accreditation. Schools must be re-evaluated every five years to maintain that status.

The accreditation process requires business and accounting programs to complete a rigorous self-evaluation report that demonstrates how they meet AACSB standards for academic excellence.

Peer review teams of leaders from other AACSB-accredited programs conduct interviews with faculty members, staff members, and students. They then make a recommendation for accreditation that must be approved by the association’s board of directors.

Deans and faculty members must “make a commitment to ongoing continuous improvement to ensure that the institution will continue to deliver the highest quality of education to students,” said Robert D. Reid, executive vice president and chief accreditation officer of AACSB International.

Dr. Gwen Fontenot, interim dean of the Moody College of Business Administration, said: “It is gratifying to know that the dedication and hard work of our faculty and staff are not only appreciated, but recognized by our peers and the AACSB International. We strive to maintain a culture of continuous improvement, in an effort to constantly give our students a competitive edge in the global marketplace in which they will work.”

UL Lafayette business and accounting programs were commended by the AACSB for their focus on community outreach and student engagement.

The college’s work with businesses and non-profit organizations was cited for its positive impact on the region.

Its accounting program also was recognized for its engagement activities and graduates’ high CPA exam pass rates.

Dr. Suzanne Ward, accounting department head, noted: “We are very pleased and excited that the accounting peer review team and the AACSB have recognized the efforts of our accounting faculty, staff, and students, as well as the support of accounting and business professionals. We endeavor to create a sound foundation from which our students can develop into successful accounting professionals through life-long learning.”

The Moody College of Business Administration offers bachelor’s degrees in accounting; economics; finance; hospitality management; insurance and risk management; management; marketing; and professional land and resource management.

It also offers a Master of Business Administration; Executive MBA; and Master of Science in accounting.

Learn more about the Moody College of Business Administration and its degree programs at business.louisiana.edu.

Learn more about AACSB International accreditation at aacsb.edu/accreditation/