New Standards for Success

Nimble, pioneering, distinctive—all descriptors our and other leading institutions strive to achieve.

In the end, all that we do here at the Lundquist College of Business circles back to a philosophy of preparing students for a rewarding life experience in the best way possible.

Now, the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB)—the global nonprofit organization with the mission of advancing management and accounting education through quality assurance—has put forth a new set of proposed accreditation standards that more accurately reflect the nature of modern business education. The proposed revisions fit the educational mission and practices at the core of the Lundquist College of Business, and we only stand to benefit from them. They will make our business school stronger, by providing standards against which to more accurately evaluate our high-quality education against our peers.

In one example, a new guideline expands the types of instructors recognized from what one may consider "the faculty"—a small group of traditionally defined, tenure-track professors—to a more modern definition of the team of individuals paramount to "developing curricula, creating instructional materials, delivering classroom lectures regardless of the medium, tutoring small groups of students, grading student papers," and more.

At the Lundquist College, we strive to be more flexible and creative with faculty resources and, just like AACSB, recognize the contributions of those bringing knowledge directly from the field—or from case studies and other applicable research. Our new Professor of Practice classification is a timely example. These highly qualified, experienced thought leaders join us from the business, academic, or government world, and bring up-to-the-minute insights straight to the classroom.

Another AACSB standard update emphasizes the value of connecting academic and professional activities. Experiential learning has long been the hallmark of the Lundquist College, but it has taken on a whole new depth in recent courses, as students partner with corporations and organizations for long-term projects, with fantastic results.

An example: We recently learned from Salem that the industrial ecology course led by professor Jennifer Howard-Grenville saved the city some $1 million during the past year. Many other ideas from more than 120 student groups across twenty-nine courses this term are also moving forward in various ways. In addition to deepening the understanding gained only through experience in the field, the work that students do as part of their regular courses really can make an impact in communities locally and around the world.

In a final example, the proposed AACSB standards are designed to be more focused, flexible, and relevant for business schools now and in the future.

By blending the theoretical with the practical—the tried-and-true with the revolutionary—the result is a more well-rounded, highly employable graduate, unafraid to take on the most modern and pressing business issues.

We believe the new rules, while demanding, are welcome and positive.

They allow us to innovate as we seek academic rigor and practical relevance. They encourage us to leverage our unique positioning as part of a premier Association of American Universities institution, with a global reach located in the vibrant Northwest. Best of all, they codify beliefs and values we have held for a long time.

Cordially,