School of Business receives extension of AACSB accreditation 

NATCHITOCHES – The School of Business at Northwestern State University has had its accreditation extended by AACSB International. 

AACSB, the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business, is the global standard-setting body for business education, strengthening the world’s business schools through accreditation, thought leadership and transformative learning. AACSB now has 1,055 accredited institutions in over 69 countries and territories. Achieving this milestone ensures greater access to high-quality business education for learners around the world and businesses seeking top talent.  

NSU’s School of Business has been accredited since 1997. 

“AACSB reaccreditation is a huge accomplishment for the NSU College of Business and Technology,” said Dr. Curtis Penrod, director of the School of Business. “AACSB is considered to be the premiere accreditation agency for business. Not all universities are able to obtain AACSB accreditation so it’s an honor to maintain our accreditation. This accreditation highlights the quality of our business programs and the efforts and hard work of our faculty.” 

Penrod said during their review, the AACSB teams looked at a wide array of areas including strategic management, innovation, learner success, teaching effectiveness, thought leadership, engagement and societal impact. According to Penrod, the process shows the School of Business is making a difference for NSU’s students and the community at large.  

“Having external validation of these efforts means so much to the College of Business and Technology,” said Penrod. “While we won’t have another accreditation review until 2030-2031, we will continue to strive to meet the expectations and standards of AACSB.” 

Achieving AACSB accreditation is a mission-driven, rigorous process that includes an in-depth assessment of internal activities, mentorship with an AACSB advisor and a peer-reviewed evaluation focused on continuous improvement. During this multi-year path, NSU’s School of Business focused on developing and implementing a plan to achieve its mission and align with AACSB’s accreditation standards.  

“AACSB congratulates each institution on achieving AACSB accreditation,” said Stephanie Bryant, executive vice president and global chief accreditation officer at AACSB. “The commitment to earning accreditation is a true reflection of each school’s dedication—not only to its students, alumni network and greater business community—but to society as a whole.” 

For more information on NSU’s School of Business, go to nsula.edu/business.