How Do Quantitative And Qualitative Factors Influence The Selection Of Comparable, Competitive, And Aspirant Groups Under The Proposed AACSB Accreditation Maintenance Process?

Abstract

The AACSB Blue Ribbon Committee on Accreditation Quality was “formed to do a thorough review of AACSB International's accreditation standards and procedures and to propose changes appropriate for global quality leadership in the next decade...” Within the proposal from the Blue Ribbon Committee is a change from a reaffirmation process with a site visit every ten years to a maintenance program resulting in a team visit in the sixth year of the cycle. Under the old standards applicants were required to submit “to the appropriate accreditation committee chair, in care of the AACSB International office, five nominations for each team role; i.e., five names for chair, five names for advisor, five for member, and if accounting accreditation were applicable, five names for vice-chair and five names for accounting advisor.” The proposed standards include a team selection process whereby the “applicant submits three comparison groups selected from members of the Accreditation Council... AACSB International will develop an on-line system to assist the applicant to identify potential comparison schools, officially select schools for each comparison group, and continuously maintain comparison group listings in an AACSB International database. Some information is currently available. The on-line service, www.aacsb.edu/knowledgeservices, offers advanced search functions that produce institution lists based on optionally selected criteria.” This AACSB provided information as well as information from other sources constitutes the basis for the recommended comparison group selection process.