Cal Lutheran SOM receives accreditation

Business programs' excellence in teaching certified

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“This puts us in the top tier of business schools in the nation and is a guarantee that our students receive the very best education from the very best professors,” said School of Management Dean Gerhard Apfelthaler.

(THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. — Jan. 25, 2021) The international Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP) has granted California Lutheran University’s School of Management full accreditation without conditions. 

“This puts us in the top tier of business schools in the nation and is a guarantee that our students receive the very best education from the very best professors,” said School of Management Dean Gerhard Apfelthaler.

ACBSP is the premier accreditation body for business schools focused on excellence in teaching. Accreditation certifies that the teaching and learning processes meet its rigorous standards. The organization evaluates the quality of academic programs, faculty credentials, educational support, leadership, relationships with stakeholders, and strategic planning to determine whether the business programs offer a rigorous educational experience and demonstrate continuous quality improvement.

The council noted many areas of strength in its review of the School of Management including the following: 

  • continuous data-informed assessment of outcomes and improvement of educational program offerings and processes
  • strong support system of counseling, advising, tutoring and other resources for students
  • excellent retention programs and practices
  • appropriate mix of faculty scholarship and professional activities 
  • Apfelthaler’s “dynamic” leadership

This is the first time Cal Lutheran sought separate accreditation for its business programs. It was an intensive three-year process that included self-study and site visits by an evaluation team that interviewed students, alumni, employers, faculty and advisory board members. 

“Cal Lutheran has shown its commitment to teaching excellence and to the process of quality improvement by participating in the accreditation process,” said ACBSP Chief Accreditation Officer Steve Parscale. “This accreditation is evidence that Cal Lutheran is committed to providing the highest quality business education for its students.”

The School of Management offers undergraduate programs in accounting, business administration, business management, economics, hospitality and tourism management, organizational leadership, sports management, entrepreneurship, financial planning and global business. It offers a variety of MBA programs as well as master’s degrees in financial planning, information technology, management, public policy and administration, and quantitative economics. It has about 12,000 alumni. 

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