Shenkir new president of AACSB.

William G. Shenkir, dean of the McIntire School of Commerce at the University of Virginia, Charlottesville, was elected the 1990-91 president of the American Assembly of Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB).

Shenkir, a member of the American Institute of CPAs education executive committee, served as the project director of the Financial Accounting Standards Board's conceptual framework project. He was also a member of the American Accounting Association committee on the future structure, content and scope of accounting education.

Headquartered in St. Louis, the AACSB is the sole accrediting agency for U.S. business schools and accounting programs. More than 800 organizations belong to the AACSB, including over 650 U.S. colleges and universities, a number of schools located overseas and in Canada and over 100 major corporations, academic and trade groups.

Accreditation standards review. The AACSB currently is engaged in a major review of accreditation standards. According to Shenkir, the outcome of the accreditation review project will have direct implications for the nation's business and accounting programs, resulting in a new set of standards within the next year.

Changes in the accreditation standards for business and accounting programs, on both the undergraduate and graduate levels, will affect requirements for both curriculums and faculty credentials, Shenkir said.

"An overriding emphasis is being given to developing accreditation standards that can be applied to a particular school, in terms of whatever niche or mission that school has, rather than taking a 'one size fits all' approach," Shenkir added.

Donald Skadden, the AICPA vice-president-taxation, is the project's vice-chairman. Seven of its 16 members are accountants.