BUSINESS SCHOOL AT UAF NATIONALLY SANCTIONED

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 24 , 1998

Fairbanks, Alaska - The School of Management at the University of Alaska Fairbanks has earned reaccreditation for its bachelor's and master's degree in business from the nation's top accrediting agency. The school's accounting and information systems accreditation from the American Assembly of Collegiate Schools of Business was reaffirmed in 1995 and is the only accredited accounting program in Alaska.

UAF's business school was first accredited in 1987 when its accounting and business programs, as well as its MBA program received national AACSB recognition, the first time in the accrediting council's history that accreditation was granted in all three areas at once.

There are approximately 1,200 business schools in the U.S. and only a quarter of those are accredited. UAF is one of only 115 universities which have the distinction of being separately accredited by AACSB-International Association for Management Education in its undergraduate accounting, business and MBA programs.

"The reaccreditation clearly moves the School of Management into the next millennium on a note of outstanding excellence," said Keith Criddle, acting director of UAF's business school. "Students are by far the biggest winners in this process. They can be assured that a degree from UAF meets the rigorous standards outlined for the best management schools throughout the country. Many top employers won't even look at students who aren't from accredited programs."

Criddle said the reaccreditation announcement was made at the AACSB-International Association for Management Education meeting in Chicago June 14. The

recommendation to reaffirm UAF's business school accreditation followed an on-campus site visit in April. A team of business school deans analyzed UAF's business school curriculum, faculty resources, admissions, degree requirements, library and computer facilities, financial resources and intellectual climate.

"Given the recent restructuring of the School of Management, the reaccreditation is particularly rewarding for faculty and for UAF," said Provost Paul Reichardt. Last year a new College of Natural Resource Development and Management was formed by joining the School of Agriculture and Land Resources Management, the School of Mineral Engineering and the School of Management.

The merger of the three schools into a new college was the result of a program assessment process initiated in 1994 by the University of Alaska Board of Regents. The systemwide effort identified ways to streamline the university to adjust to declining state revenues. While each school within CNRDM retains its specific mission, the new college provides a framework for interdisciplinary projects targeting natural resources management and development and is intended to tap the talents of faculty to provide modern programs to meet Alaska economic development needs.

CONTACT: UAF School of Management Acting Director Keith Criddle (907) 474-7461, UAF Accreditation Committee Chair and Associate Professor of Finance Mary Lindahl (907) 474-5531, or UAF Public Information Officer Debra Damron (907) 474-7122.

DPD/6-24-98/98-072