University of Washington Bothell’s School of Business has maintained its accreditation by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business.

Fewer than 5 percent of the 16,000 business schools worldwide are accredited by AACSB, the longest serving global accrediting body for business schools, the association says.

“The AACSB accreditation is a clear message to students, parents, guidance counselors, other schools and employers that UW Bothell School of Business has made a long-term commitment to provide the best in business education,” said Dean Sandeep Krishnamurthy. “Rooted in engagement, innovation and impact, the AACSB accreditation allows us to be a part of the international community of business schools, thereby bringing the best practices in teaching and research to our region.”

Achieving accreditation is a process of internal, mentor and peer reviews in which schools develop and implement plans that align with AACSB standards. The standards require excellence in strategic management and innovation with the active participation of students, faculty and staff, and academic and professional engagement.

“Accreditation demonstrates that UW Bothell School of Business students are receiving an education that is recognized nationally as meeting the highest standards,” said Randy Serroels, a 2001 MBA graduate and retired senior director of engineering at Siemens Healthcare.

Business courses at UW Bothell were first offered in 1993 in offices at Canyon Park, then in 2000 on the Bothell campus. The Eastside Leadership Center (ELC) was established in 2008 in Bellevue. The Business Program officially transitioned to the School of Business in 2012.

The school offers daytime and evening bachelor’s degrees in business administration. Undergraduate students can specialize in accounting, entrepreneurship, finance, general business, international business, marketing, management, management information systems, retail management and technology and innovation management. MBA students choose between the technology MBA at Bothell and the leadership MBA in Bellevue at the ELC, which also offers a master’s of accounting program.

Founded in 1916, the Tampa, Florida-based AACSB provides business education intelligence, quality assurance and professional development services to more than 1,500 member organizations in 91 countries.