By Kenna Jenkins, October 21, 2025
Cal Poly Pomona’s College of Business Administration and the Singelyn Graduate School of Business join the small group of business schools with accreditations for both business and accounting.
According to the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business’ website, the dual accreditation is only held by only six other schools in California: California State University, Fullerton; California State University, Northridge; San Diego State University; Santa Clara University; University of San Diego and University of Southern California.
AACSB is a standard-setting body for business education and schools globally.
“AACSB gives us a particular way of thinking and a thought process and a particular way of doing our work that leads to excellent outcomes for our students,” said Singelyn Family Dean Sandeep Krishnamurthy.
Krishnamurthy said under AACSB standards, the college has strategic plans with a clear focus on career readiness and an intentional focus on connecting both undergraduate and graduate students with prosperous economic futures.
One of the ways the college is doing this, according to Krishnamurthy, is the soft launch of a new initiative called the College of Business Administration Career Hub, which the college will offer in addition to resources at the Career Center. Krishnamurthy said they plan on inviting employers in the middle of fall semester to host demonstrations and workshops for students.
Julie Porter, director of marketing and communications for the College of Business Administration and Singelyn Graduate School of Business, said the CBA Career Hub will have its grand opening Nov. 6.
Krishnamurthy said this was the first time the accounting department received an AACSB supplemental accreditation.
“We worked on it for almost three years,” said Magdy Farag, chair of the accounting department. “It was a process, but at the very end, when we were granted the accounting accreditation, it was an exciting moment.”
Farag added the process of working toward the accreditation was a team effort between not only the accounting department but the Dean’s office and other administrators as well. Farag said the accreditation makes the program more visible and interesting to employers.
“The gain for the students, I think, is they’re going to see more opportunities for them because they can probably say ‘We’re graduating from an accredited program by the AACSB,’” Farag said.
In addition to the dual accreditation, CPP’s chapter of Beta Gamma Sigma, which is an international honors society for AACSB-accredited school, earned the distinction of Highest Honors Chapter for 2024-2025. According to its website, the honors society is focused on things like networking and professional development.
Joshua Groman, president of Beta Gamma Sigma Honor Society, said Beta Gamma Sigma helped him develop his leadership and communication skills since he joined last spring .
“From the opportunities I was able to obtain through Beta Gamma Sigma, I kind of used it as a platform, and it’s helped me develop more of a business etiquette and a proper way to lead meetings and agendas and projects as well,” Groman said.
Groman added Beta Gamma Sigma has taught him how to take initiative in reaching out and connecting to other clubs and the business student community.
“This is kind of what Beta Gamma Sigma is all about is just giving me the power to help guide and develop other students,” Groman said.
According to its website, AACSB has a continuous improvement review that is conducted every six years to document that accredited schools are making continuous improvements toward the school’s mission and the sustainment of its accreditation.
Feature image courtesy of Kenna Jenkins
