UT Welcomed into CFA Institute University Recognition Program

The University of Tennessee, Knoxville has become part of the CFA Institute University Recognition Program, a consortium that includes less than 120 universities worldwide and less than 75 in the Americas.

The Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation is a respected and recognized investment credential. To earn the CFA designation, individuals must pass three levels of exams over a three year timeframe.

The exams are extremely arduous, with the pass rate for the June 2013 Level I exam at 38 percent. Because of its CFA Institute University Recognition, UT will be able to offer scholarships to five students to defray the cost of the CFA Level I exam.

“Being a part of the CFA Institute University Recognition Program tells potential students, employers, and the marketplace that our curriculum is closely tied to professional practice,” said James Wansley, head of the UT Department of Finance. “Our programs incorporate an increasing emphasis on ethics as well as the technical and analytical rigor necessary in today’s financial environment.”

UT earned entry into the recognition program because the College of Business Administration’s MBA and undergraduate programs in finance incorporate at least 70 percent of the CFA Program Candidate Body of Knowledge and emphasize the CFA Institute Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice.

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. Its goal is to create an environment where investors’ interests come first, markets function at their best, and economies grow.

CFA Institute has more than 110,000 members in 139 countries and territories, including 100,000 CFA charterholders. For more information, visit www.cfainstitute.org.