Limestone College Awarded Accreditation For Business Programs

The Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP) Baccalaureate/Graduate Degree Board of Commissioners recently awarded Limestone College accreditation of its Business programs.

Established in 1988, ACBSP is the only organization offering specialized Business accreditation for all degree levels, from associate to baccalaureate to doctoral degree programs. ACBSP accreditation certifies that the teaching and learning processes within the undergraduate and graduate business programs offered through the Limestone College Department of Business & Economics meet the rigorous educational standards established by ACBSP.

“Limestone College has shown its commitment to teaching excellence and to the process of quality improvement by participating in the accreditation process,” said ACBSP Chief Accreditation Officer Dr. Steve Parscale, who will present the Certificate of Accreditation at ACBSP Conference 2017 in Anaheim, California, on June 26. “This accreditation is evidence that Limestone College is committed to providing the highest quality business education for their students.”

Based on the Baldridge Education Criteria for Performance Excellence, ACBSP accreditation evaluates aspects of leadership, strategic planning, relationships with stakeholders, quality of academic programs, faculty credentials, and educational support to determine whether or not the business programs offers a rigorous educational experience and demonstrate continuous quality improvement.

“This ACBSP accreditation recognizes Limestone’s thorough and exhaustive academic standards, as well as our excellent faculty and our focus on supplying the education that our Business students need and deserve,” said Limestone Professor of Business Management Dr. Michael Scharff, who also serves as chairperson of the Business and Economics Department. “This accreditation also shows our current and prospective students that our curriculum is pertinent and applicable and that our graduates will be ready to make positive impacts in the business field.”

Recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) in 2001 and again in 2011, ACBSP was the first to offer specialized business accreditation at all degree levels. ACBSP currently accredits business programs at more than 1,200 campuses in 60 countries.

“To earn this accreditation, Limestone College was required to demonstrate that we meet specific standards related to strategic planning, leadership, stakeholder focus, and measurement of student learning,” explained Shannon Creighton, the Director of Limestone’s Master in Business Administration (MBA) Program. “ACBSP accreditation provides ours Business programs with immediate recognition in the professional business community.”

Limestone College also has Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) Regional Accreditation. Other departmental accreditations include Athletic Training (Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education), Music (National Association of Schools of Music), Social Work (Council of Social Work Education), and Teacher Education (National Council of Accreditation of Teacher Education).