AACSB International Extends UD’s Lerner College Global Accreditation in Business

As ratified by the AACSB International (AACSB) board of directors on June 29, 2023, the University of Delaware’s Alfred Lerner College of Business and Economics has extended its AACSB accreditation in business.

The AACSB peer review team met Lerner College leadership as part of its Continuous Improvement Review, led by former Dean Bruce Weber, during the review period from 2020 through 2022. 

“Lerner is now in a strong position on faculty sufficiency and qualifications, and faces no major obstacles to remaining fully in alignment with AACSB standards,” said Weber. 

“The next cycle begins with a 2024-25 self-study and a peer review team visit in early 2026. Dean Oliver Yao will be well supported in the process by the leadership and staff in Lerner,” continued Weber.

For more than a century, accreditation from AACSB has been synonymous with the highest standards in business education. Today, a total of 989 institutions across 60 countries and territories have earned AACSB accreditation in business. Furthermore,194 institutions maintain supplemental AACSB accreditation for their accounting programs.

“Every AACSB-accredited school has demonstrated a focus on excellence in all areas, including teaching, research, curricula development, and student learning. The intense peer-review process exemplifies their commitment to quality business education,” said Stephanie M. Bryant, global executive vice president and chief accreditation officer of AACSB.

Achieving accreditation is a process of rigorous internal focus, engagement with an AACSB-assigned mentor, and peer-reviewed evaluation. 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.

Once accreditation is achieved, each institution participates in a five-year continuous improvement peer review to maintain high quality and extend its accreditation.

About AACSB International

Established in 1916, AACSB International (AACSB) is the world’s largest business education alliance, connecting educators, learners, and business to create the next generation of great leaders. With members in over 100 countries and territories, AACSB fosters engagement, accelerates innovation, and amplifies impact in business education. Learn how AACSB and business schools from around the world are leading boldly in business education at aacsb.edu.

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