University of Nebraska at Kearney Welcomed into CFA Institute University Affiliation Program

Kearney, NE, December 2020 — The University of Nebraska at Kearney has become the latest university to be welcomed into the CFA Institute University Affiliation Program. The Business Administration Comprehensive degree with a Finance emphasis has been acknowledged as incorporating at least 70 percent of the CFA Program Candidate Body of Knowledge (CBOK) and placing emphasis on the CFA Institute Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice within the program.  This program positions students well to obtain the Chartered Financial Analyst® designation, which has become the most respected and recognized investment credential in the world.

Entry into the CFA Institute University Affiliation Program signals to potential students, employers, and the marketplace that UNK’s curriculum is closely tied to professional practice and is well-suited to preparing students to sit for the CFA examinations.  Through participation in this program, UNK is eligible to receive a number of student scholarships for the CFA Program each year.

UNK is the fourth Nebraska institution to be affiliated with the CFA, and is one of only 240 institutions nationwide to be accepted. Dr. Suzanne Hayes, Associate Professor of Finance, spearheaded the rigorous application and approval process with the CFA Institute. "The future of finance at the College of Business and Technology is indeed very bright. Our finance program is growing and continues to attract and retain outstanding, high-quality students."

The ability to offer these scholarships to UNK graduates with the finance emphasis is yet another added value to the dynamic, hands-on learning opportunities students can access in investments, corporate finance and banking. Developments over the last year, including the acquisition of Bloomberg research stations and the CFA Institute affiliation, allows CBT to continue to actively invest in our students. 

"This new ability to offer scholarships to our students means they have access to the highest professional level in finance without the barrier of a weighty exam cost," said Dr. Tim Jares, Dean of the College of Business and Technology. "Removing these barriers means we can continue our mission of producing high quality professionals for the Nebraska workforce and beyond."

 About CFA Institute
CFA Institute is the global association of investment professionals that sets the standard for professional excellence and administers the industry gold standard CFA charter. The organization is a champion for ethical behavior in investment markets and a respected source of knowledge in the global financial community. The end goal: to create an environment where investors’ interests come first, markets function at their best, and economies grow. CFA Institute has more than 176,000 members in 166 countries and territories, including 164,000 CFA charter holders. For more information, visit www.cfainstitute.org.

 About the CFA Program

The CFA Program sets a standard for developing the skills, standards, competence, and integrity of financial analysts, portfolio managers, investment advisers, and other investment professionals worldwide.  It is widely considered the investment profession’s most rigorous credentialing program.  Administered in English, the CFA curriculum and examinations are identical worldwide. Fewer than one in five candidates who begin the program successfully complete it and go on to earn the coveted CFA charter, the “gold standard” for investment professionals.