Arthur J. Bauernfeind College of Business maintains prestigious accreditation

MURRAY, Ky. – The Arthur J. Bauernfeind College of Business at Murray State University has maintained its business accreditation by AACSB International—The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB). 

AACSB accreditation is the hallmark of excellence in business education. As the world’s largest business education alliance, AACSB provides quality assurance, business education intelligence and professional development services to over 1,500 member organizations and more than 785 accredited business schools worldwide. 

To maintain accreditation, institutions must complete an intensive, peer-reviewed process every five years to ensure continuous improvement and compliance with quality standards.  

"I want to thank Dean David Eaton, Assistant Dean Joy Roach Humphreys and the faculty, staff, students, alumni and other partners of the Bauernfeind College of Business for their exceptional work on the re-accreditation process,” Murray State President Dr. Bob Jackson said. “The AACSB accreditation is held by a very small percentage of the business colleges in the world and we are fortunate to be counted in this prestigious group."

“The Arthur J. Bauernfeind College of Business is very proud of the AACSB gold standard accreditation we have held since 1976 (undergraduate) and 1981 (graduate),” Murray State Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. Tim Todd said. “The leadership of the college, the faculty, the staff and most certainly the students all deserve credit for this ongoing mark of excellence.”

“This reaffirmation by AACSB recognizes the work, dedication and excellence of the faculty and staff of the Arthur J. Bauernfeind College of Business,” Dean of the Bauernfeind College of Business Dr. David Eaton said. “Their dedication to the students and to the mission of Murray State University is reflected not just in this accreditation, but in the impacts our faculty, staff, students and graduates have in their careers and communities.”

“AACSB has nine outcomes-focused standards that accredited business schools must keep at the forefront of everything they do,” Assistant Dean of the Bauernfeind College of Business Dr. Joy Roach Humphreys said. “These standards cover important focus areas such as strategic planning, resource development, faculty and staff development and qualifications, an innovative and up-to-date curriculum, learner progression, impact of faculty scholarship and societal impact. Murray State University’s business programs have a track record of demonstrated continuous improvement and success in these areas.”  

The Arthur J. Bauernfeind College of Business houses six academic departments. These encompass 44 undergraduate and graduate programs and tracks that prepare students for careers in a variety of fields: 

• Accounting

• Computer Science and Information Systems

• Economics and Finance

• Journalism and Mass Communications 

• Management, Marketing, Business Administration, and Logistics & Supply Chain Management

• Organizational Communication and Leadership

Students pursuing degrees in business at Murray State are prepared for careers in a wide variety of fields led by faculty whose research is recognized globally. In addition to their coursework, students are encouraged to pursue research opportunities and internships in their respective fields to gain both real-world experience and course credit. Students can also get involved with a number of organizations. Additionally, the college offers education abroad programs for students to take their business education to an international level. 

The college is recognized not just regionally but on an international level. In 2018, the college began a new international partnership with Shandong Technology & Business University (STBU) in Shandong, China. The dual degree program provides classes taught by Murray State faculty to STBU students, allowing them to earn a degree from each university while remaining residents at STBU. Students selected for the program can choose between earning a degree in accounting or finance.

In 2019, the Center for Economic and Entrepreneurial Development (CEED) was created. Covering 24 counties of west Kentucky, the CEED provides confidential, in-person consulting and services such as business plan preparation, financial statement analysis and management assistance. The CEED also seeks to engage student experiential learning through internships and employment opportunities with regional business and industry, along with training, seminars and educational services as well. 

Through the generosity of supporters and the continued upward trajectory of Murray State University and the Arthur J. Bauernfeind College of Business, recent facility enhancements include the Financial Markets classroom. The classroom is lined with glass-panel windows, a live ticker illustrating market trends and stock symbols, with additional large monitors throughout the room for academic lectures, active learning with mock-trading capability and scholarly presentations. 

In 2022, the United Systems and Software (USS) Project Suite was established to give students real-world work experiences to better prepare them for life after college. Students can utilize the suite for authentic USS template projects and other coursework opportunities that advance academic excellence, including on-campus internships, senior capstone coursework and more.

To learn more about the Arthur J. Bauernfeind College of Business at Murray State University, visit murraystate.edu/business.