Accreditation and Assessment

Plans are under way for a February 2006 AACSB accreditation visit to the UNL College of Business Administration. AACSB International accreditation represents the highest standard of achievement for business schools worldwide.

Alumni response has always been a critical factor in the assessment process. Associate Dean Gordie Karels says that technology has brought changes to the accreditation process. “This year we plan to offer an on-line survey for our alums,” Karels said. “Changing technology has brought new approaches in the workplace. The College will emulate those trends and make data gathering effective and user-friendly.” Karels continued, “We want to make responding easy for our past grads. We value their input.” Several employer and grad surveys also are being converted to internet and email formats.

Karels believes that accreditation benefits all CBA. “In many ways accreditation merely formalizes what we have done for a long time. Our goal has always been to make our teaching and research relevant and effective for our grads and for the employers in Nebraska.”

To improve student data collection, BSAD 098, a student assessment course taught via Blackboard, will be launched in fall 2005. Blackboard, software that creates a networked learning environment, is part chat room, part message board, part web page linked to form a computer learning community.

Assistant Dean D’vee Buss sees Blackboard and BSAD 098 as “a communication tool that will enhance student learning without taking time from the classroom experience.” Buss also says that the course will be another way to contact students with information about job opportunities, speakers, deadlines, and updates as well as a way to assess student performance.