In fall 2015, the Graduate School of Management (GSOM) officially became a signatory to the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) best practices document on expanding opportunities for women in business. GSOM is one of just 51 business schools nationwide who have committed to these strategies to help expand opportunities for women to attain business degrees and succeed in the 21st century workforce.
GSOM associate dean, Andrea Aiello, attended the White House Working Families Business Schools Convening, a forum organized last summer by the Council on Women and Girls and the Council of Economic Advisers, to explore ways business schools can collaborate with the community to ensure success for women and to encourage diversity in American workplaces. As a result of this meeting, the document on “Best Practices for Business Schools” was created, which outlines strategies for expanding opportunities for women in business.
“Clark’s GSOM is well-suited to help encourage and ensure women’s success in the workplace,” Aiello stated. “We are proud to be among a prestigious group of business schools who are committed to this effort.”
The document provides concrete strategies for business schools to help women succeed throughout school and their careers and to build a business school experience that prepares students for the workforce of tomorrow. These best practices focus on four key areas:
- ensuring access to business schools and business careers;
- building a business school experience that prepares students for the workforce of tomorrow;
- ensuring career services that go beyond the needs of traditional students; and
- exemplifying how organizations should be run.
These best practices can be viewed on the website of AACSB International. AACSB accreditation is the highest standard of achievement for business schools worldwide, a distinction GSOM has held since 1986. Less than 5% of the world’s 13,000 business programs have earned AACSB Accreditation.
