About the Opus College of Business

The Path to Accreditation

The university committed to pursue AACSB accreditation in June 2000. Our application was accepted by the AACSB in July 2006. During the time between the decision to seek accreditation and the application, the college took a series of steps to prepare ourselves for the process.

• 2001 – Combined graduate and undergraduate business divisions, forming Opus College of Business
• 2002 – Named Christopher Puto dean of the College of Business
• 2003 – Launched the Full-time UST MBA program
• 2005 – In ceremony involving Best Buy founder Dick Schulze and Microsoft’s Bill Gates, Schulze Hall was dedicated in downtown Minneapolis, serving the Schulze School of Entrepreneurship
• 2006 – Filed AACSB application

Between 2006 and 2010, the Opus College of Business continued its efforts to strengthen its curriculum and improve its facilities.

• 2006 – Opened McNeely Hall in St. Paul
• 2007 – Added 11 full-time faculty members
• 2008 – Continued hiring streak, adding 13 faculty members
  2008 – Acceptance of AACSB plan, implemented over the course of two academic cycles
• 2008 – Gifted $50 million for business programs by anonymous donor
• 2010 – Full-time business faculty members added throughout decade totals 52
• November 2010 – Team of deans from AACSB-accredited schools visit
• December 2010 – Becomes first private university in Minnesota and the second university, public or private, in the Twin Cities to be AACSB accredited
• April 2011 – Accreditation will be formally recognized at the AACSB International conference and annual meeting in New York