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Accreditation

West Texas A&M University is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, a regional agency recognized by the United States Department of Education. This is the highest accreditation a university can receive and signifies that WTAMU has "a purpose appropriate to higher education and the resources, programs and services sufficient to accomplish and sustain that purpose."

The College of Business at West Texas A&M University is in the preliminary stage of seeking accreditation by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB). Accreditation by AACSB is considered the highest-level of business accreditation, achieved by less than 10% of the business schools in the world. At the present time, the College of Business at West Texas A&M University has been approved by AACSB for pre-accreditation consideration. The college is working with a mentor in preparing an initial accreditation plan. The process of earning AACSB accreditation requires many steps over several years. As we move forward on this initiative we need alumni, students, faculty, staff, the business community and other stakeholders to do our collective best to ensure West Texas A&M University continues to improve as a program of excellence.

Public files supporting accreditation, assessment, and faculty working papers can be accessed by going to following site: (http://cob.wtamu.edu/accreditation/).

Step AACSB Accreditation Process WTAMU COB Completion Date
1 The applicant school establishes AACSB International membership. AACSB membership established October 2006.
2 The applicant submits its completed Eligibility Application to begin the process. Application submitted April 2007 and accepted by PreAccreditation Committee July 2007. 
3 The PreAccreditation Committee (PAC) assigns a mentor, and based on the PAC review of the Eligibility Application, the PAC provides input to the mentor regarding areas of potential concern. Mentor appointments must avoid any appearance of conflict of interest. AACSB appointed Dr. Berkwood Farmer, Dean of the Raj Soin College of Business at Wright State University as the WT COB mentor.
4 The mentor visits the applicant and (a) assists the school to respond to any concerns raised by the Eligibility Application and (b) reviews how the applicant satisfies each standard to assist in preparation of a gap analysis that the applicant will perform and use as the basis for the Accreditation Plan. AACSB mentor visits WTAMU campus and College of Business June 2008.
5 The Accreditation Coordinating Committee reviews the Eligibility Application as revised to meet any concerns raised by the PAC and rules on eligibility issues such as diversity and excluded programs. Postive AACSB mentor report submitted to PAC August 2008.
6 With the mentor's assistance, the applicant prepares and submits an Accreditation Plan and a Strategic Plan. The Strategic Plan extends beyond the achievement of accreditation plan. College of Business submits Initial Accreditation Plan to AACSB August 2009.
7 The Pre-Accreditation Committee (PAC) reviews the Accreditation Plan and approves it to be forwarded to the Initial Accreditaiton Committee (IAC) or iterates suggestions for modification and review until approval is possible. College of Business Initial Accreditation Plan accepted by PAC November 2009.
8 The Initial Accreditation Committee (IAC) reviews the Accreditation Plan and approves it, or iterates suggestions for modification and review until approval is possible.  
9 The IAC reviews the Strategic Plan and approves it, or iterates suggestions for modification and review until approval is possible.  
10 The applicant submits annual reports on progress made and any delays in achieving its Accreditation Plan. Any changes to the Accreditation Plan are described in the annual reports.  
11 The mentor continues to work with the applicant for up to three years as the applicant implements its Accreditation Plan.  
12 Two years in advance of the anticipated accreditation review visit, a Peer Review Team (PRT) Chair (but not the full team) is appointed. The team Chair monitors the applicant's progress through the final two years of the accomplishment of the Accreditation Plan. Team Chair appointments must avoid any appearance of conflict of interest.  
13 The applicant prepares its Self-Evaluation Report (SER) while working with the team chair.  
14 The IAC appoints the other members of the Peer Review Team (PRT). The team reviews the SER, and it prepares and sends a pre-visit letter that is approved by the IAC.  
15 The visit takes place, and the team delivers to the applicant and to the IAC a visit report that includes an accreditation decision recommendation. The IAC ratifies or remands the recommendation.  
16 Recommendations for accreditation or denial that are ratified by the IAC are then sent to the Board for ratification or remand.