April 8, 2000

Richard Pegnetter, Dean
College of Business
Florida Gulf Coast University
10501 FGCU Boulevard South
Fort Myers, Florida 33965-6565

Dear Dean Pegnetter:

I am pleased to convey to you the AACSB Candidacy Committee's acceptance of your annual report for the College of Business at Florida Gulf Coast University. Thus, your school's candidacy status has been extended for one year until review of your next annual report. Your school is now entering its second year of candidacy.

While the Committee recognized the significant effort you, your faculty and staff have contributed to the school's progress toward accreditation and the annual report, it nevertheless identified some issues and concerns which are noted below. These should be addressed by the faculty and administration and be reported, along with progress in the other actions outlined in your plan, in your next annual report due March 15, 2001.

Specifically, concerns were:

1. We encourage you to use a consultant to review your faculty qualifications to assure compliance with the appropriate accreditation standards and, if appropriate, be prepared to extend your time for self-evaluation.
   
   
2. Please clarify your relationship with the National Technological University International, MBA Consortium, the credit awarded for these courses, and the potential impact on your accreditation.

While we are pleased to accept your annual report, our review is, of course, based upon self-reported information. Representations of compliance by the candidacy school with the accreditation standards can be verified only in the actual accreditation process, i.e., subsequent evaluation of information and outcomes through peer review. The accreditation decision will be based upon a direct assessment of continuous improvement and overall high quality. Therefore, the school accepted to candidacy must be in a position to justify its representations at the time of its self-evaluation and the peer review team visit.

The issue of stability is important to the accreditation process. Therefore, the candidacy school's accreditation plan, the corresponding dates and assigned responsibilities need to be realistic. Precondition P.3.b. states that, "Programs in business shall satisfy the business standards during the year of self-evaluation and the year of visit and must demonstrate continuing adherence to the standards." One of the greatest problems encountered by applicants for initial accreditation is application before the Preconditions are satisfied or processes are fully implemented. Processes related to assuring continuous improvement must be in place and functioning. Progress must be evident at schools seeking initial accreditation. Mere definition of processes and initial implementation are often viewed as inadequate progress. There is a need for documentation of results and actual achievement levels. Because the last year of candidacy corresponds to the self-evaluation year, all changes relative to standards and expectations and processes must be in place prior to that year.

Remember, progress toward achievement of accreditation shall be measured against the school's mission statement as accurately portrayed in the candidate school's annual reports. Timelines established in the original candidacy plans may change as long as the candidate school meets the requirements within the five-year period.

Please remember that a school is restricted in terms of how candidacy can be reported. "Candidacy status is an indication that an institution has voluntarily committed to participate in a systematic program of quality enhancement and continuous improvement that makes AACSB accreditation a more realistic and operation objective. Candidacy is not accreditation and does not guarantee eventual accreditation."

Should you have any questions, please feel free to contact your Candidacy Committee liaison. We appreciate your commitment to achieve accreditation and encourage your continuing efforts.

Sincerely,

Frank J. Navratil, Chair
Candidacy Committee

Enclosure