The study sought to determine if the newly received AACSB accreditation impacted enrollment of the Lewis College of Business, Marshall University. A questionnaire was used to survey all new or transfer students and a 27.5% response was received

Alexander, Robert P.

Hatfield, David

English

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The Coastal Business Journal Volume 1 Number 1 Article 6 May 2002 Does AACSB Accreditation Impact Enrollment? Robert P. Alexander Marshall University David Hatfield Marshall University Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.coastal.edu/cbj  Part of the Advertising and Promotion Management Commons, Curriculum and Instruction Commons, E-Commerce Commons, Economics Commons, Higher Education Commons, Hospitality Administration and Management Commons, Marketing Commons, Real Estate Commons, Recreation Business Commons, and the Tourism and Travel Commons Recommended Citation Alexander, Robert P. and Hatfield, David (2002) "Does AACSB Accreditation Impact Enrollment?," The Coastal Business Journal: Vol. 1 : No. 1 , Article 6. Available at: https://digitalcommons.coastal.edu/cbj/vol1/iss1/6 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Journals and Peer-Reviewed Series at CCU Digital Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in The Coastal Business Journal by an authorized editor of CCU Digital Commons. For more information, please contact commons@coastal.edu. The Coastal Business Journal Page 47Volume 1, Number 1DOES AACSB ACCREDITATION IMPACT ENROLLMENT?Robert P. AlexanderDavid HatfieldMarshall UniversityABSTRACTThe study sought to determine if the newly received AACSB accreditation impactedenrollment of the Lewis College of Business, Marshall University. A questionnaire was used tosurvey all new or transfer students and a 27.5% response was received.INTRODUCTIONMarshall University’s Lewis College of Business began as the School of Business in 1969.Prior to this event it had been the Business Department located inside the College of Arts andSciences (University Catalog 1969). In 1973, the School of Business was reorganized and namedthe College of Business and Applied Science University (Catalog 1973). Under a new Dean,accreditation by the American Assembly of Collegiate Schools of Business became a goal after avote of the faculty. A former President of the AACSB was invited to meet with the faculty and setforth the standards that needed to be achieved to accomplish the accreditation. Those standardswere quality of faculty, intellectual contributions, and facilities. Time passed with continuingefforts to meet AACSB standards. In 1977 the college paid its first dues to the American Assemblyof Collegiate Schools of Business to signal an interest in becoming accredited by that body. In1978, the College of Business became a single unit when the title Applied Science was dropped(University Catalog 1978). In 1997, the college became the Elizabeth McDowell Lewis Collegeof Business (University Catalog 1995).In 1980, a new building was occupied by the college and the question of the lack offacilitieshad been answered. The number of faculty with terminal degrees in field continued to bea problem as well as the lack of intellectual contributions. Due to the absences of financial supportto meet market conditions, the college continued to struggle in progressing toward its goal ofaccreditation by AACSB. Finally, in April of 1997, that goal was achieved.In the fall of 1997, Marshall University’s Lewis College of Business had an increase inenrollment of fourteen percent (14%) the first enrollment period following the announcement ofachieving the AACSB accreditation. This increase occurred while high school graduate numberswere decreasing in the state(High School 1992).The Coastal Business Journal Page 48Volume 1, Number 1METHODOLOGYDid the AACSB accreditation have any impact upon this increase? Were there other factorsin the minds of the enrollee that contributed more to the choice? Was the long sought goal worththe effort? This study was developed in an attempt to answer these questions.A list of 345 newly enrolled students to the Lewis College of Business was obtained fromthe university’s computer center. A one-page questionnaire (see Appendix I) was developed andmailed to these students. The questionnaire sought information from three areas: 1) the student’sorigins (transfer from within Marshall, transfer from another college, etc.), 2) the reason forenrollment in the Lewis College of Business (tuition was cheaper, family, etc.), and 3) generalinformation, ( G.P.A, etc.). A daily record of returns was recorded, beginning with the first returnreceived on April 10, 1998. Of the 345 mailings, 89 were returned during a one-month responseperiod, yielding a return rate of 25.7%. Data analysis began on May 11, 1998. Some data biasmay exist due to the short one month response period. Too, no follow-up mailings were made.ANALYSISIn responses to the questionnaire section relating to origin, thirty-three (33) community ortwo year colleges were represented. Five (5) were from West Virginia, with Southern WestVirginia Community and Technical College listed eighteen (18) times. Of the thirty-two (32) fouryear colleges and universities noted, nine (9) were from West Virginia with West VirginiaUniversity and West Virginia State College each being listed eight (8) times. Of the out-of-stateinstitutions listed, the University of Kentucky was named most often, listed five (5) times. Thetotal number of institutions listed was forty-five (45). (See Appendix II.)The second section of the questionnaire sought to determine the respondent’s reason fortransfer to the Lewis College of Business. This area listed eleven (11) reasons including thecategory,”Other (specify)”. During analyses, this section was divided into three areas, (a)Academics, (b) Size, Location, Price, and (c) other factors. The respondents could list in rankorder as many of the ten suggested reasons as perceived. In the first category, Academics, thoselisting accreditation as the first choice numbered twenty-eight (28) , while twenty (20) listedacademic reputation of Marshall as the first reason. Thus, a total of forty-eight (48) selectedacademics first. Thirty-nine (39) of these respondents listing academics had grade point averagesbetter than two point six (2.6), with ten (10) , had better than a three point five (3.5) average.These grades were self reported but not verified since the survey allowed for anonymousresponses.Other frequently listed reasons in the size, location, and price section, were nationalranking as one of the best values (buys) sixteen (16) times; tuition was cheaper, ten (10) times;Marshall’s size, eight (8) times; and Marshall’s location, eighteen (18) times.The Coastal Business Journal Page 49Volume 1, Number 1Other factors included friends attended, eleven (11); moved to area, eleven (11); parentswere graduates, three (3); Football program, (10); and others changed majors, health caremanagement, to play baseball.Top Reasons for Selecting Marshall University Lewis College of Business(In order)AccreditationAcademic ReputationLocationBest BuyFriends AttendedMoved to areaCONCLUSIONSBased upon this study it would appear that being fully accredited including AACSBaccreditation and the academic reputation of Marshall University were the leading reasons fortransferring to the Lewis College of Business, followed by the national ranking as one of the bestvalues, along with location. It appeared that achieving AACSB accreditation was important tostudents selecting an institution of higher education for their studies.REFERENCES“High School Graduates Projections by States 1992-2009” (1993). Western Interstate Commissionfor Higher Education.Marshall University Undergraduate Catalog (1969). School of Business 166.Marshall University Undergraduate Catalog (1973). College of Business and Applied Science 67.Marshall University Undergraduate Catalog (1978). College of Business 10.Marshall University Undergraduate Catalog (1995). Elizabeth McDowell Lewis College ofBusiness 78.The Coastal Business Journal Page 50Volume 1, Number 1APPENDIX IQUESTIONNAIREDear Respondent:In the 1997-98 fall semester, the Lewis College of Business (LCOB) ) had an upper division enrollment increase ofmore than fourteen percent (14%). This questionnaire has been designed to access reasons for this growth. Accordingto the information in the LCOB data bank, you are among that fourteen percent. You could assist greatly bycompleting the following questions. Responses will be confidential. Thank you in advance for your help.Origin1. Yes_______No________ I am a returning Marshall student2. Yes_______No________ I transferred from another Marshall College, i.e. science.3. Yes_______No________ I am a transfer student from a Community College_______ In West Virginia_______ from another state4. Yes_______No________ I transferred from another four-year college or university_______ In West Virginia_______ from another stateReason for transferPlace in rank order your reason for choosing the Marshall University Lewis College of Business. One being thehighest rank reason, etc.1. ______ Lewis College of Business is fully accredited by all accrediting association, including the highestpossible accreditation (AACSB)2. ______ Influenced by the national ranking of Marshall University as being one of the best value (buys) ofeducation in the United States3. ______ Tuition was cheaper4. ______ Academic reputation of Marshall’s LCOB5. ______ Marshall’s size6. ______ Marshall’s location7. ______ Moved to area8. ______ Friend(s) attend9. ______ Parent(s) were graduates10.______ The football program11.______ Other (specify) _______________________________________________General Information1. Other institution attended before transfer__________________________________2. Approximate number of hours transferred ________________________________3. Quality point range. 2.0-2.5 ________, 2.6-3.0_______, 3.1-3.4_______ over 3.5____The Coastal Business Journal Page 51Volume 1, Number 1APPENDIX IIDATACollege previously attendedCommunity or 2 year collegeAllegheny Community College 1Ashland Community College 1Clinton Community College 1Delaware State College 1ITT Technical Institution 1Lexington Community College 1Marshall Community + Tech College 1Parkersburg Community College 1Pensacola Junior College 1Potomac State College 1Southern WVA Community +Tech College 18Tidewater Community College 1West Virginia at Parkersburg 4Total 33Four year college/universitiesAlice Lloyd College 1 Wheeling Jesuit College 1Appalachian Bible College 1 York College 1Capital University 1 Fairmont State College 1Total 51Glenville State College 1Iowa State University 1Kent State University 1 From another collegeKentucky Christian College 1 at Marshall 5Miami (Ohio) University 1Ohio University Athens 1Ohio University Southern Campus 2Ohio University 2Richland College 1Shephard College 1Southern Polytechnic State University 1Thomas Moore College 1Univ. of NC –Charlotte 1University of Virginia 1University of Rio Grande 1University of Charleston 1University of S. Carolina 1University of Kentucky 5University of Pittsburgh 1University of Houston 1University of West Florida 1Wesleyan College 1West Virginia Tech 1West Virginia State College 8West Virginia University 8The Coastal Business Journal Page 52Volume 1, Number 1APPENDIX IIITally of Respondents / Reason for transfer and number above 2.6 GPA (Selected as number one)AcademicsLCOB is fully accredited 28Academic reputation of Marshall 202.6-3.0 243.1-3.4 5over 3.5 10Size, Location, PriceNational Ranking as one of the best value (buys) 16Tuition was cheaper 10Marshall’s size 8Marshall’s location 182.6-3.0 233.1-3.4 5over 3.5 9Other factorsFriends attended 12Parents were graduates 3Football Program 10Moved to area 11Other 212.6-3.0 123.1-3.4 6over 3.5 9

Does AACSB Accreditation Impact Enrollment?

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Does AACSB Accreditation Impact Enrollment?

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