In a letter dated November 18, 2012, Harris-Stowe State University’s Anheuser-Busch School of Business received formal notification of its Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP) institutional accreditation status, and is proud to announce that the ACBSP Board of Commissioners has reaffirmed Harris-Stowe’s accreditation for the next 10 years.
On October 7-10, 2012, the Anheuser-Busch School of Business underwent a review of its self-study during a site visit by the ACBSP, which was hosted by a university-wide committee of faculty, staff and administrators. During the comprehensive visit, ACBSP team members gained valuable insight into the business programs, processes and procedures practiced by the university and met with various stakeholders, including students, alumni, Board of Regents and community leaders.
“The university recognizes the value of ACBSP accreditation. Not only the accredited status creates prestige, visibility and credibility for the institution, the pursuit of accreditation reaffirmation reinforces the university and the school’s commitment to continuous improvement and innovation” states Dr. Zakery, dean of the Anheuser-Busch School of Business.
ACBSP, founded in 1988, is a leading specialized accreditation association for business education supporting, celebrating, and rewarding teaching excellence. The ACBSP was created by its members to fulfill a need for specialized accreditation by institutions of higher education with business schools and programs. Specifically, that need was for business education accreditation based on the mission of the institution and of the respective unit, an accreditation that acknowledged and emphasized quality in teaching and learning outcomes.
Maryville U No. 1 in ‘Over Performing’
Maryville University of St. Louis has been named the No. 1 over performing university in the nation as cited by U.S. News & World Report.
Experts at U.S. News & World Report looked at data from the U.S. News & World Report’s Best Colleges 2013, then took peer assessment and compared it to actual rankings. Maryville University’s performance is 87 places above its peer assessments.
Maryville University President Mark Lombardi said the report enhances the value of all Maryville University degrees.
“This shows we are doing outstanding work for our students inside and outside the classroom and reminds us that in higher education great reputation lags behind great performance,” Lombardi said. “Studies such as this one communicate to parents, students, other universities and prospective employers of our graduates that Maryville University exemplifies a daily commitment to excellence.”
Maryville, founded in 1872, entered the National Universities category of U.S. News & World Report rankings in 2012. It is one of only three St. Louis institutions that are ranked. The others are Washington University and St. Louis University. Maryville is also highly ranked by Forbes and Kiplinger’s as a best value.
Wash U helps with GEAR Up eval
The U.S. Department of Education (DOE) recently launched the first large-scale test of college savings accounts when it incorporated a college savings and financial counseling component into GEAR UP (Gaining Early Awareness for Undergraduate Programs), its initiative to prepare youth for college.
The DOE allocated $16.5 million for GEAR UP and has launched the first federal evaluation of the program. Washington University in St. Louis, through the Center for Social Development (CSD) at the Brown School, is taking part through a $1 million grant.
Led by Michal Grinstein-Weiss, PhD, associate professor of social work and associate director of the CSD, the research conducted at WUSTL will inform policy at the federal level, particularly concerning college savings and child development accounts.
“This will generate rigorous evidence-based policy stemming from a randomized control trial,” says Grinstein-Weiss, principal investigator on the GEAR UP research project. “It’s great that the Department of Education is taking on this initiative, and CSD is very happy to help lead the research.”
The large-scale study will include approximately 20,000 students in 200 high schools across 10 states, and it will be conducted in partnership with Abt Associates, a global research firm that specializes in the fields of health, social and environmental policy. The six-year study will research the impact of college savings accounts, financial counseling and other GEAR UP program features on outcomes such as college savings, enrollment and graduation. The study timeline has the potential to extend to 10 years.
“This research will take place over time, but it also has the potential to have an immediate impact,” Grinstein-Weiss says. “The research will help the NIE shape its College Access Challenge Grant program moving forward, and may also help raise awareness of the ASPIRE Act that Congress likely will be reconsidering.”
GEAR UP, authorized in 1998 by amendments to the Higher Education Act, provides intervention services such as mentoring, tutoring, counseling and scholarships, primarily for low-income middle and high school students. With the new savings element, the DOE aims to enhance its effort to make a college education accessible for all Americans.
