ACBSP is CHEA recognized

Perhaps a minor note to some, but ACBSP (Association of Collegiate Business Schools and Programs) became CHEA recognized in January. Perhaps someone else noted it in earlier posts, but I don't think I've picked this up in reading this NG.

While this in no way tarnishes AACSB's place as the "gold" standard for business school accreditation, it is good news for ACBSP.

Regards - Andy

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Andy Borchers, DBA
NSU (1996)

 

Thanks for posting this Andy, first I've heard of it. Does AACSB still lack DOE recognition? It would be ironic indeed for the supposed "second-class" accreditor to hold both DOE and CHEA accreditation, while the "gold standard" has only CHEA.

Bruce

 

Bear and Bear note in their 14th edition that the USDOE removed its recognition of more than a dozen accrediting agencies. The USDOE determined that the main purpose for their process of recognizing accreditors was participation in financial aid and other programs. Because these agencies--including AACSB--didn't perform that function, out they went.

Bear and Bear also note that nine of those agencies were simultaneously recognized by CHEA, which continues to recognize them. The authors also comment that "virtually every college accredited by these nine also has regional accreditation." (page 44)

Rich Douglas

 

It's a time and labor consuming exercise for accreditors to carefully document their activities to the satisfaction of the US Department of Education.

As Rich points out, technically the only reason that the USDoE recognizes accreditors at all is to qualify the schools that they accredit for federal funding. In the case of some of the professional accreditors, all of the schools that they accredit already have accreditation from a USDoE recognized accreditor and are already eligible for participation in federal programs. So there is a question whether the benefits of recognition outweigh the costs in those cases.

I think that the American Chemical Society is a good example. They accredit university chemistry departments and their accreditation is a very big deal among chemists. But since all ACS accredited departments are within regionally accredited universities, what's the point of involving the USDoE? So the ACS is an unrecognized accreditor. What makes ACS accreditation credible isn't whether the US government recognizes it, but whether the chemists do. And the ACS is their national professional organization.

 

It's time-consuming (and costly) for the USDOE, too. In this age of privatization, it's surprising this function hasn't been handed off. For one, it's hardly a core function of the USDOE (which concentrates most of its brain power on primary and secondary education). While there are big financial aid bucks at stake, the USDOE could monitor one umbrella organization, say, CHEA, who would be tasked with evaluating and approving accreditors.

This would take away the redundancy and conflicts faced by accrediting agencies serving two masters. The USDOE would be able to get this service from CHEA on the cheap (CHEA is already doing it). This would also keep those pesky regionals in line with the rest of the accreditors by keeping them under the same roof.

Were I empowered to do so, I would do this. And I'd also add one other component: a process for schools to apply directly to CHEA for recognition and financial aid eligibility for their students. But I'm just a pest.

Rich Douglas

 

Two additional note - I can tell you, having just been through IACBE and soon an ACBSP accreditation visit, that both require US candidates to have regional accreditation.

Also, the CHEA website lists both ACBSP and AACSB as CHEA recognized agencies. IACBE claims they are seeking the same recognition, but they have yet to receive it.

Thanks - Andy


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Andy Borchers, DBA
NSU (1996)

 

Is this the accrediting body that Robert Kennedy University in Switzerland is seeking accreditation from?

If so how would their accreditation by a CHEA recognized body affect their acceptability. I realize they have quite an interesting history. If I remember correctly the term "less than wonderful" or "mill" has been used. They also have a goofy web site with pictures of people hanging out at the castle.

North

 

North mentions that Robert Kennedy U has "a goofy web site with pictures of people hanging out at the castle."

I recall from a.e.d. that is was shown that they rent rooms in that castle, a city-owned property, a few times a year. Also, when challenged on the name, they said that the school was named after a New York banker who gave them money, but they declined to give any more information, and no bankers of that name were found.

 

Many of the photos on the RKU website are from Chateau Mercier's site, even the map to the castle. Presumably this has been done with the permission of the foundation. http://www.chateaumercier.ch/

Another outfit renting space at the chateau is a ski trip company. Perhaps RKU could steal a page from Concordia C&U and grant degrees on the basis of one's ski ratings (if there are such).

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Bill Gossett