By Emily Rachelle Russell | Contributor
The Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP) visited Taylor's campus Sunday, Oct. 2 through Wednesday, Oct. 5 to complete the final step of Taylor's business department accreditation process.
This accreditation would cover all the business majors, including accounting, finance, management and marketing, but would not affect course content or structure.
ACBSP's representatives evaluated a self-study and other data provided by Taylor. They also met with various individuals in the university, including current students, various faculty and staff members, the president, the provost and a dean.
Department Chair and Associate Professor of Business Jody Hirschy said that Taylor as a university is accredited, but this program would add further credibility to its business offerings.
Hirschy said business faculty began the accreditation process for two reasons: to enable continued improvement in the department and to obtain external validation of Taylor's business degrees.
Jeff Sherlock, professor of business, oversaw the self-study required by Taylor to begin the official accreditation process. This study included measurements, evaluations and projected improvements on six factors: program leadership; strategic planning; student and stakeholder focus; outcomes assessment; faculty and staff qualifications and professional development; and educational and business process management.
Taylor began this process in 2000, but the self-study was never completed, according to Sherlock. In 2007, Sherlock's arrival prompted further progress on the project, but it was again put on hold. Business department faculty dedicated the 2015-16 academic year to completing the self-study, which was submitted in June 2016.
The ACBSP representatives who visited campus will report back to the board, which will determine whether to grant accreditation. No projected date is available for when Taylor will receive official results.
Tyler Hagen, senior finance major, is one of several students whose degrees would be affected by the accreditation. Broadening the amount of exposure the business department receives is one benefit Hagen sees as a result of the visit.
"I think it's great for the school as a whole just to get recognition . . .," Hagen said. "They've provided a lot of different opportunities for business students, so I think this is just another step cementing Taylor University's status as a premier business school."
