The Paul Merage School of Business at UC Irvine Maintains Distinguished AACSB Accreditation

Irvine, CA – (March 28, 2013) – Following a rigorous review process by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB International), UC Irvine’s Paul Merage School of Business has maintained its AACSB Accreditation and remains among the top five percent of all AACSB-accredited programs in the nation.

“The Merage School strives for excellence in every area and we are pleased that our high standards have been recognized by AACSB International,” said Andy Policano, dean of The Paul Merage School of Business. “This achievement speaks highly of the hard work that our faculty, staff, students and alumni have put forth to ensure our continued placement among the world’s most elite business schools.”

“It takes a great deal of commitment and determination to earn and maintain AACSB Accreditation," said Robert D. Reid, executive vice president and chief accreditation officer of AACSB International. "We are pleased to welcome the newly accredited schools, and send our congratulations to those that have maintained their accreditation."

Achieving accreditation is a process of rigorous internal review, evaluation, and adjustment and can take several years to complete. During these years, the school develops and implements a plan to meet the AACSB Accreditation Standards, which require a high quality teaching environment, a commitment to continuous improvement, and curricula responsive to the needs of businesses.

Accreditation with AACSB International is a hallmark of excellence and a coveted distinction for business schools worldwide. Today, there are 672 business schools in 44 countries and territories that maintain AACSB Accreditation, less than 5% of the world’s business programs. Founded in 1916, AACSB International is the longest serving global accrediting body for business schools that offer undergraduate, master's, and doctoral degrees in business and accounting.

About AACSB International

AACSB International (The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business), founded in 1916, is an association of more than 1,300 educational institutions, businesses, and other organizations in 81 countries and territories. AACSB's mission is to advance quality management education worldwide through accreditation, thought leadership, and value-added services. As the premier accreditation body for institutions offering undergraduate, master's, and doctorate degrees in business and accounting, the association also conducts a wide array of conferences and seminar programs at locations throughout the world. AACSB's global headquarters is located in Tampa, Florida, USA and its Asia Pacific headquarters is located in Singapore. For more information, please visit www.aacsb.edu.

About The Paul Merage School of Business at UC Irvine

The Paul Merage School of Business at UC Irvine offers four dynamic MBA programs, a Master of Professional Accountancy – plus PhD and undergraduate business degrees – that deliver its thematic approach to business education: sustainable growth through strategic innovation. It graduates leaders with the exceptional ability to help grow their organizations through analytical decision-making, innovation and collaborative execution. In-class and on-site experiences with real-world business problems give students the edge needed to help companies compete in today’s global economy. For more information, please visit merage.uci.edu.

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