Frequently-Asked Questions by Category
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FAQs by the Public
- What is program accreditation, and how does it differ from institutional accreditation?
- What does it mean for a business program to be accredited by the IACBE?
- How long does the accreditation process take? For how long is program accreditation valid?
- How can I learn more about the quality of an IACBE member’s business programs?
- What’s the difference between an individual member, educational member, candidate for accreditation, and accredited member?
- I’ve got a complaint against an IACBE-accredited business program. What should I do about it?
What is program accreditation, and how does it differ from institutional accreditation?
Institutional accreditation involves the examination of an entire college or university and all of its functions. In the United States, institutional accreditation is carried out by the six regional accrediting bodies and a number of national accrediting bodies that have been recognized by the United States Department of Education. Institutional accreditation by a recognized accrediting body is required in order for students to have access to federal funds. Outside of the United States, most countries have government-based institutional accreditation.
Program accreditation, such as that provided by the IACBE, involves a specific and comprehensive evaluation of particular programs offered by a college or university. Programmatic accreditation is available in many different disciplines. The IACBE provides a process by which colleges and universities can earn program accreditation for their business programs.
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What does it mean for a business program to be accredited by the IACBE?
In its accreditation reviews, the IACBE implements a quality assurance process that involves a comprehensive set of accreditation principles pertaining to academic resource measures, educational processes, and outcomes assessment. In order for its business programs to be accredited by the IACBE, an academic business unit must demonstrate compliance with these principles. The nine major areas covered by these principles are:
- Outcomes Assessment
- Strategic Planning
- Curriculum
- Faculty
- Scholarly and Professional Activities
- Resources
- Internal and External Relationships
- International Business Education
- Educational Innovation
In order for a business program to become accredited, the academic business unit that offers the program must first become a Candidate for Accreditation. It must then produce a self-study that addresses each of the IACBE’s Accreditation Principles. A team of highly-trained peer reviewers then visits the institution and produces a report detailing the extent of compliance with the IACBE’s Accreditation Principles. The self-study, site-visit report, and the academic business unit’s response to the site-visit report are reviewed by the IACBE Board of Commissioners. In order for the commissioners to grant accreditation, the business programs must be in compliance with the IACBE’s Accreditation Principles.
To be accredited, therefore, means that an institution and its academic business unit have made a commitment to excellence in business education, and that their business programs have been evaluated by independent, external reviewers and have complied with the IACBE’s Accreditation Principles.
For more information about IACBE accreditation and the IACBE’s Accreditation Principles, please see the organization’s Self-Study Manual:
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How long does the accreditation process take? For how long is program accreditation valid?
Once an academic business unit has been accepted into candidacy, it has up to five years to complete the accreditation process and achieve accreditation for its business programs. The process typically takes 2-4 years. When the IACBE Board of Commissioners grants accreditation, it is valid for a period of up to 7 years. At that time, the academic business unit prepares a new self-study, undergoes a new site visit, and is reviewed for reaffirmation of accreditation by the Board of Commissioners.
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How can I learn more about the quality of an IACBE member’s business programs?
If a business program is accredited by the IACBE, an academic business unit has demonstrated that the program complies with the IACBE’s accreditation principles. To learn what programs are accredited, the date of the next site visit, and other details pertaining to an accredited member of the IACBE, please go to the Member Status Information page where you can search our member database by various member criteria.
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Where can I find information about the differences between an individual member, educational member, candidate for accreditation, and accredited member?
Differences between the various categories of membership in the IACBE are detailed on the Membership page.
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I’ve got a complaint against an IACBE-accredited business program. What should I do about it?
The IACBE has developed a Procedure for Third-Party Complaints. This procedure is designed to provide the information necessary to determine whether further investigation by the IACBE is warranted, and to protect the rights of students, parents, IACBE members, the IACBE, and the public. This procedure must be followed in order for the IACBE to investigate a complaint. For detailed information about this procedure, please see the IACBE’s Accreditation Process Manual.
> Accreditation Process Manual (PDF)
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FAQs by Students
- As a prospective student, what does IACBE accreditation mean for me?
- Will IACBE accreditation allow my degree to be recognized by institutions in other countries?
- Does IACBE accreditation help to ensure the acceptance of transfer credits?
As a prospective student, what does IACBE accreditation mean for me?
IACBE accreditation helps to ensure that your business degree is of high-quality. IACBE-accredited programs have undergone a rigorous self-evaluation and on-site evaluation by highly-trained reviewers. In addition, the institution and its academic business unit have demonstrated a commitment to excellence in business education and are involved in a continuous quality improvement process based on the assessment of student learning outcomes.
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Will IACBE accreditation allow my degree to be recognized by institutions in other countries?
Institutions with IACBE-accredited business programs typically accept business degrees from other institutions with IACBE-accredited business programs. Earning a business degree from an institution with IACBE-accredited programs can enhance the likelihood that your degree will be recognized by other institutions.
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Does IACBE accreditation help to ensure the acceptance of transfer credits?
The IACBE accredits business programs, not entire institutions or individual courses. The decision to accept transfer credits depends entirely on the individual institution and varies by institution.
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FAQs by Administrators and Faculty
- For how long has the IACBE been in existence?
- Is the IACBE recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA)?
- Is the IACBE recognized by the United States Department of Education?
- What does it cost to be a member of the IACBE?
- How much are dues if we join in the middle of the year?
- How much does a candidacy visit cost?
- How much does a site visit cost?
- How do we become a member of the IACBE?
- What forms of payment do you accept for dues, conferences, and special events?
- How long does it take for programs to become accredited?
- Does the IACBE have a mentoring program?
- Should I attend the IACBE annual conference?
- How do I become a site visit peer reviewer?
For how long has the IACBE been in existence?
The IACBE was founded in 1997.
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Is the IACBE recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA)?
The Board of Directors of the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) has granted recognition to the IACBE.
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Is the IACBE recognized by the United States Department of Education?
The United States Department of Education does not recognize professional accrediting associations in business. Therefore, none of the business accrediting associations are recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
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What does it cost to be a member of the IACBE?
Academic business unit and individual membership dues billed in 2011 for the 2012 membership year are $2,350. For accredited members, there is an additional $400 fee for accreditation maintenance. Annual membership dues are payable in advance and must be paid before December 15, 2011, or late fees will be assessed. Honorary members of the IACBE do not pay membership dues.
Note: Annual membership dues for 2013 will be $2,450 in addition to an accreditation maintenance fee of $400 for accredited members. These dues and fees will be billed in mid-May or June 1, 2012, and will be due by December 15, 2012.
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How much are dues if we join in the middle of the year?
Annual dues for the 2012 membership year are $2,350. For new members of the IACBE, membership dues for 2012 are prorated according to the date of joining as follows:
January 1 - February 29
$2,350
March 1 - April 30
$1,880
May 1 - June 30
$1,410
July 1 - August 31
$940
September 1 - October 31
$470
November 1 - December 31
Remainder of 2012 Dues Waived
Note: Annual membership dues for 2013 will be $2,450 in addition to an accreditation maintenance fee of $400 for accredited members. These dues and fees will be billed in mid-May or June 1, 2012.
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How much does a candidacy visit cost?
Costs for candidacy visits within the continental United States are usually less than $2500. For information about costs of candidacy visits outside the continental United States, please contact the IACBE World Headquarters.
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How much does a site visit cost?
Costs for site visits within the continental United States are usually less than $5000. For information about costs of site visits outside the continental United States, please contact the IACBE World Headquarters.
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How do we become a member of the IACBE?
In order to become an educational member of the IACBE, an academic business unit must submit an application for educational membership, pay its membership dues, provide evidence that its parent institution has a publicly-stated mission appropriate to a college or university, submit a copy of the most recent catalog for the institution’s undergraduate and graduate degree programs, and provide evidence that its parent institution has nationally-recognized institutional accreditation (or its equivalent) and grants business degrees at the bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral level. For more information about becoming an educational member of the IACBE, see the IACBE’s Accreditation Process Manual.
> Accreditation Process Manual (PDF)
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What forms of payment do you accept for dues, conferences, and special events?
Payments may be remitted by check, by credit card, or by wire transfer. Checks should be mailed to the IACBE at P.O. Box 3960, Olathe, KS 66063 USA. For credit card payment and wire transfer information, please contact the IACBE World Headquarters.
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How long does it take for programs to become accredited?
Once an academic business unit has been accepted into candidacy, it has up to five years to complete the accreditation process and achieve accreditation for its business programs. The accreditation process typically takes 2-4 years.
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Does the IACBE have a mentoring program?
Yes. The IACBE has established a mentoring program to assist its members through the accreditation process. For more information about this program, please see the Mentoring Program page.
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Should I attend the IACBE annual conference?
The annual conference provides an excellent opportunity to learn more about the IACBE and its accreditation process. It is also a significant professional development opportunity where sessions on best practices in business education are presented by experts from IACBE members. In addition, the annual conference provides excellent networking opportunities. IACBE conferences are known for their positive, collegial atmosphere. For more information about our next annual conference, please see the Annual Conference page.
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How do I become a site-visit peer reviewer?
In order to become a site-visit peer reviewer, you must successfully complete a training process. Site-visit peer reviewer training is conducted at the annual conference and at special workshops throughout the year. For more information, contact the Director of Member Services and International Operations at IACBE World Headquarters.
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Upcoming Events
IACBE Annual Conference - 2012
Kansas City, Missouri, USA
Kansas City, Missouri, USA
