NCU's School of Business and Technology Management Honored with ACBSP Accreditation

NCU Joins Elite Group of Institutions Focused on Teaching Excellence in Business.

Prescott, Arizona – May 7, 2007 — Northcentral University (www.ncu.edu), a leader in 100% online higher education today announced that NCU’s School of Business and Technology Management has been awarded initial accreditation by the Association of Collegiate Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP). ACBSP is the accrediting body for business schools and programs that have a focus on teaching excellence. The Association is the only accrediting body for business schools that offers accreditation for all degree levels of business education including associate, baccalaureate, masters and doctoral degrees.

NCU has been a member of ACBSP and a candidate for accreditation since 2006. The University is one of only eight schools worldwide to receive initial accreditation in 2007 and is the only 100% online institution offering bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees to have ever received this honor from ACBSP. NCU joins other prestigious institutions receiving initial accreditation or reaffirmation of accreditation, including University of Phoenix, the largest private university in the United States based in Phoenix, Arizona; Grand Canyon University, a for-profit faith based institution based in Phoenix, Arizona; Universidad Argentina de la Empresa (Buenos Aires, Argentina), CUNY (Bayside, New York); and Texas Wesleyan University (Fort Worth, Texas).

“This class of schools receiving accreditation or reaffirmation of accreditation reflects the diversity of the ACBSP membership” stated Douglas Viehland, Executive Director of ACBSP. “More than any other accrediting body for business schools, ACBSP is proud to include in our membership faith-based schools, historically black colleges and universities, Hispanic institutions, a tribal college, and for-profit institutions.”

Commenting on the honor of ACBSP accreditation, Dr. Claudia Santin, President of NCU noted, “NCU is pleased to be a leader in 100% online education and is honored to be included in this distinguished organization. As the University currently educating more Ph.D.’s in business than any other university in the United States, we believe that NCU brings a distinctive presence to ACBSP through our focus and successful history with delivering graduate business education entirely online.”

Dr. Santin, Dr. Freda Turner, Chair of the NCU School of Business and Technology Management, and NCU faculty and students plan to attend the ACBSP Annual Conference on June 29 – July 2, 2007 in Orlando, Florida where the ACBSP Board of Commissioners will present a certificate honoring attainment of initial accreditation status. NCU staff members will also participate as sponsors, presenters, and session moderators at the annual conference.

About ACBSP: The Association of Collegiate Business Schools and Programs is the only business accrediting organization for both associate and baccalaureate/graduate degree institutions. Founded in 1988, ACBSP focus in accreditation and member services is on supporting, celebrating, and rewarding teaching excellence. ACBSP membership includes over 540 institutions and over 5,600 individuals at these institutions located in 25 different countries. Additional information is available at www.acbsp.org.