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The purpose of an IACBE member becoming a candidate for accreditation status is to provide an academic business unit with an opportunity to prepare itself for the development of a comprehensive self-study and then have a site visit conducted by a professional team of evaluators from the IACBE.
Programs have fewer problems in developing their self-studies and providing evidence of compliance with IACBE accreditation principles when they have first been in a candidacy program which helps develop a keen understanding of the accreditation process. In addition, the candidacy program saves the business unit considerable time and effort in preparing the self-study and builds understanding and confidence in the overall accreditation process.
If an institution is in good standing with its US-based regional accrediting body and becomes an institutional member of the IACBE, it is eligible to apply for candidacy status following the guidelines listed below. It is essential that these guidelines be followed when applying for candidacy status. Once granted candidacy status, the program must determine, in consultation with the IACBE headquarters, the timetable for first-time accreditation.
The candidacy process used by an institutional member with U.S.-based regional accreditation includes submitting the following information to the IACBE for review:
- A copy of the most recent regional reaffirmation of accreditation letter or, for institutions that recently received accreditation, a copy of the regional accreditation letter.
- A copy of the most recent catalog for undergraduate and graduate programs. If the catalog is on-line, provide the Internet address (URL) and an electronic version.
- A program overview of the business and business-related programs which includes:
- The mission statement of the academic business unit.
- The specific page number in the institution’s catalog which:
- Describes each business program
- Identifies the academic credentials of each full-time faculty who teaches in the business program, including the highest earned degree and major field of study
- Identifies the business core required by each business major and/or concentration
- Identifies the general education requirements for each business major and/or concentration
- Identifies the required courses beyond the business core for each business major and/or concentration
- The number of undergraduate and graduate students majoring in business or business-related programs for each of the past three years
- The number of degrees conferred, for each of the past three years, in business or business-related programs, listed by degree, major, and concentration.
- A completed outcomes assessment plan for the academic business unit.
- The most current assessment results from the direct and indirect measures of student learning.
- A description of the linkages between the academic business unit and business and industry (e.g., business advisory board, internships, etc.).
- Organizational charts for the academic business unit and the institution.
- A letter from the president and/or chief academic officer affirming the institution’s commitment to attaining and maintaining excellence in business education and supporting the IACBE’s accreditation process.
If needed, mentoring is available through the IACBE to assist the program in compiling the information required for the candidacy process.
The information outlined above should be sent to the IACBE headquarters for review. After review, a representative of the IACBE will visit with the head of the academic business unit or the primary representative to discuss the information submitted for candidacy status. When the candidacy requirements have been met, the academic business unit will be granted candidacy status by the Board of Commissioners. The academic business unit will remain as an institutional member until it is granted candidacy status. Mentoring is available throughout the candidacy process.
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