Rollins Business Programs Earn AACSB Reaccreditation

March 24, 2022

By Elsa Wenzel

Social entrepreneurship professor Josie Balzac and Raphael Adomakoh ’22 conduct research in the Social Impact Hub.
Social entrepreneurship professor Josie Balzac and Raphael Adomakoh ’22 conduct research in the Social Impact Hub.Photo by Scott Cook.

Rollins continues to demonstrate global leadership in business education, meeting the highest standards for academic rigor and distinction.

Rollins’ undergraduate business programs have once again achieved the highest standard of accreditation through the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB). This elite status places the College among the top 5 percent of the world’s 16,000 degree-granting business schools and ensures that Tars pursuing careers in business join a prestigious group of alumni who exemplify the best in business education.

Rollins’ commitment to personalized learning and mentorship is a major draw for students like international business major Abdiel Martinez ’21. Thanks in part to the guidance provided by business professor Richard Lewin, Martinez landed a coveted summer internship with Citi in Manhattan, which led to a full-time job offer after graduation.

Abdiel Martinez ’21
International business major Abdiel Martinez ’21 landed a prestigious internship at Citi in New York.Photo by Scott Cook.

And that’s just one example of how the Rollins approach to business provides students with a future-proof education. Other unique offerings include the Career Champions mentorship program, which pairs notable alumni with up-and-coming leaders, and the Women in Finance program, an initiative designed to provide targeted mentorship and opportunities to women looking to break into the industry.

“The reaccreditation of Rollins’ business programs demonstrates our commitment to maintaining the highest standards of excellence and rates us among the world’s top business programs,” says business management professor Tim Pett. “This wasn’t a simple process, and to have accomplished it during a global pandemic is phenomenal. The mission and values of AACSB align well with Rollins’ commitment to turn out globally engaged leaders.”

Business management professor Tim Pett’s High-Performance Organizations class.
Business management professor Tim Pett’s High-Performance Organizations class.Photo by Scott Cook.

In addition to their degrees carrying the prestige of an internationally recognized organization, students at AACSB-accredited schools enjoy the highest-qualified faculty and greater access to job recruiters.

“Students can be confident that they are getting great value for their college investment because they get some of the best in business education that there is,” says international business professor Emmanuel Kodzi. “It also means our graduates will have some distinct marketplace advantages since they will be viewed more favorably and tend to earn better compensation.”

Social entrepreneurship professor Tonia Warnecke notes AACSB’s special emphasis on the importance of societal impact from business.

Social entrepreneurship professor Tonia Warnecke gives feedback on student presentations in her Global Development course.
Social entrepreneurship professor Tonia Warnecke gives feedback on student presentations in her Global Development course.Photo by Scott Cook.

“Our social entrepreneurship major enables students to build a career out of making the world a better place and learn transferable tools for creating change across public, private, and nonprofit sectors,” she says. “This is especially appealing to prospective students who are engaged in their communities and seek a productive career that equips them with the practical skills to make change in the world.”

Rollins’ business offerings consistently appear high on respected nationwide and regional rankings. UniversityHQ recently recognized the international business program as one of the top in the nation, and College Factual has ranked it one of the best programs in Florida.

“Every AACSB-accredited school has demonstrated a focus on excellence in all areas, including teaching, research, curricula development, and student learning,” says Stephanie M. Bryant, executive vice president and chief accreditation officer of AACSB. “The intense peer-review process exemplifies their commitment to quality business education.”

Students in Rollins’ 3/2 Accelerated Management Program brainstorm ideas with Crummer operations management professor Keenan Yoho.
Students in Rollins’ 3/2 Accelerated Management Program brainstorm ideas with Crummer operations management professor Keenan Yoho.Photo by Scott Cook.

Another standout opportunity at Rollins is the 3/2 Accelerated Management Program, which allows students to jump-start their careers with an advanced degree by completing both a bachelor’s and an MBA at the top-rated Crummer Graduate School of Business within five years.

The nonprofit AACSB offers the longest-standing, most recognized form of accreditation that business programs can earn. Rollins is among 65 schools to receive the accreditation in 2022, including Stanford University, the Virginia Military Institute, and Colorado State University.


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