ITHACA, N.Y. -- Cornell University's undergraduate business program in the Department of Applied Economics and Management (AEM) was accredited Jan. 9 by AACSB International, the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business. The course becomes only the second general undergraduate business program in the Ivy League, after the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, to earn accreditation.

AEM is a department within Cornell's College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. Accreditation provides recognition of the content and quality of its business program. The designation means that a peer group of scholars has examined the undergraduate business program in AEM and has approved it.

"Recognizing that only about one out of four business programs nationally get accreditation, this implies a fairly high standard," says Andrew Novakovic, AEM chair. "We've offered a very strong program for many years, but accreditation gives prospective students, employers, prospective faculty and others an external validation that says, 'yes, this is really a business degree program and it's a good one.' "

Susan Henry, dean of the agriculture college, says: "Over the past century, this department has had a deep and rich academic history, and it is only fitting that we begin the new century with exciting prospects. Andy Novakovic and Ed McLaughlin [professor of Applied Economics and Management] have done a terrific job in shepherding the department through the rigorous accreditation process. Rightfully, we are all quite proud of this program." AEM offers one undergraduate major, applied economics and management. Within this major are six specialties: business, food industry management, agribusiness management, farm business management and finance, environmental and resource economics, and agricultural and applied economics.

Related World Wide Web site: The following site provides additional information on this news release.

o Cornell's Department of Applied Economics and Management:

http://aem.cornell.edu/

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