University of Guam’s business programs earn accreditation for another 7 years
(From left) Annette T. Santos, dean of the School of Business & Public Administration; and John J. Rivera, chair of SBPA Graduate Programs - Professional Master of Business Administration.
The School of Business & Public Administration at the University of Guam has been granted reaffirmation of accreditation for its Bachelor of Business Administration and Professional Master of Business Administration programs for another seven years, the maximum number of years possible. This continues a history of accreditation for the school dating back to 1997. The SBPA’s business program is also the only accredited four-year program in Micronesia.
The notification came from the International Accreditation Council for Business Education (IACBE) — an accrediting body that is nationally recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation, which is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education — following its Board of Commissioners meeting in early December.
“This accreditation means continued assurance for our current and prospective business students that their education here at UOG rivals stateside and international business schools,” said SBPA Dean Annette T. Santos.
The accreditation involved a comprehensive peer-review process, a rigorous self-evaluation, and demonstrating compliance with accreditation principles in the areas of curriculum, faculty, international business education, and educational innovation, among others.
“I congratulate SBPA on its diligent efforts to maintain and innovate high-end business and management programs that are, once again, nationally recognized as such,” UOG President Thomas W. Krise said. “This underscores UOG’s continued commitment of providing an excellent education to our students.”
The SBPA has the largest number of students of the six colleges and schools at UOG, comprising 17% of UOG’s total student population. Combined, the Bachelor and Professional Master of Business Administration programs enroll approximately 530 students.
The school contributes to the local and regional communities through various consulting, research, and conference events, most recently hosting the “One Guam Gubernatorial Debate” in May and “The Tax Link: Guam and U.S. Tax Code” forum in December 2017.
The International Accreditation Council for Business Education (IACBE) was founded in 1997 and is nationally recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation. The IACBE is the leader in mission-driven and outcomes-based programmatic accreditation in business and management education for student-centered colleges, universities, and other higher education institutions throughout the world. The IACBE has hundreds of member institutions and campuses worldwide and has accredited more than 1,500 business and business-related programs in the United States, Europe, Asia, the Middle East, Central America, and South America. The IACBE’s World Headquarters are located in Lenexa, Kansas.