McCoy College Earns Extension of AACSB Accreditation

SAN MARCOS, Texas — The McCoy College of Business at Texas State University has earned an extension of accreditation by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) for the next five years. Additionally, McCoy College's Department of Accounting earned reaccreditation, which requires the satisfaction of a supplemental set of standards specific to the discipline and profession of accounting. Fewer than 200 universities worldwide earn accreditations in both business and accounting.

"This accreditation from AACSB brings distinction not only to the McCoy College, but to the whole university," said Dr. Denise Trauth, president of Texas State University. "It signifies the high caliber of our faculty and staff, and the exceptional learning experiences they provide our students. AACSB accreditation further strengthens our reputation for educating innovative business leaders of tomorrow."

According to Dr. Sanjay Ramchander, dean of McCoy College, very few business schools worldwide have earned AACSB accreditation. McCoy College first earned AACSB accreditation in 1997. The accounting program received accreditation in 2013.

"This distinction is the hallmark of business education excellence and places the McCoy College of Business in an elite group," Dean Ramchander said. 

Maintaining accreditation is a process of rigorous internal focus and engagement with an AACSB-assigned peer-review team. During this multiyear path, schools focus on developing and implementing a plan to align with AACSB’s accreditation standards. These standards require excellence in areas relating to strategic management and innovation; student, faculty, and staff as active participants; learning and teaching; and academic and professional engagement.

"The process of writing the reaccreditation report requires a holistic review of the college," said Dr. David Wierschem, associate dean for Undergraduate Programs, who shepherded the review process for the McCoy College. "This review results in focused discussions that identify opportunities for improvement. Working on the report showed that the college has made great strides in the quality of the education we provide. This was reinforced by the peer-review team assessment report that gave us high praise and recommended us for reaccreditation."

To achieve accounting accreditation, an institution must first earn AACSB business accreditation. Accounting-specific standards must be met in addition to the business accreditation quality standards.

Dr. Ann Watkins, chair of the Department of Accounting, pointed to the hard work of faculty as the key to the program's recognition.

"Reaffirmation of accreditation for our accounting programs is a testament to faculty commitment to providing a quality accounting education built on excellence in teaching, research, and service, and could not be achieved without the strength of our core business programs," Dr. Watkins said. 

Dean Ramchander echoed those sentiments.

"The accreditation of our business and accounting programs exemplifies the rigorous and high standards we place on academic excellence," Dean Ramchander said. "In aligning the college’s strategic priorities with AACSB’s key pillars — engagement, innovation, and impact — we are proud to sustain an exceptional learning environment marked by impactful teaching and curriculum, meaningful and relevant research, and collaborative community partnerships and engagement. This is an honor that our faculty, staff, students, alumni, and all our supporters can take great pride in."

Dr. Wierschem added that AACSB accreditation is an important external validation of McCoy College's academic quality. 

"Unlike university rankings that are self-reported," Dr. Wierschem said, "AACSB accreditation requires meeting mission-driven actions that are independently evaluated and validated through campus visits. Interactions with various stakeholders such as faculty, students, and alumni during the AACSB reaccreditation visit provide direct insight into their efforts in providing quality education. This is one of the reasons why so few business colleges worldwide are accredited by AACSB."

Dean Ramchander stated that the extension of accreditation reflects the direction of McCoy College.

"As a learning community we are devoted to the idea that business makes a world of difference," Dean Ramchander said. "This simple statement is at the heart of what we do and it’s what gives work and purpose for each of us." ✯

For more information about this story or about the McCoy College of Business, contact Twister Marquiss, Manager of Marketing and Communications, at 512.245.2990 or twister@txstate.edu.