UALR has become the latest university welcomed into the CFA (Chartered Financial Analyst) Institute University Recognition Program.

The Bachelor of Business Administration degree in finance at UALR has been acknowledged as incorporating at least 70 percent of the CFA Program Candidate Body of Knowledge and placing emphasis on the CFA Institute Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice within the program.

UALR Professor of Finance Andy Terry says that helping students master the fundamentals of the CFA Program as well as the Code of Ethics and Standards of Professional Conduct gives them a firm foundation as future investment professionals.

Entry into the CFA Institute University Recognition Program also signals to potential students, employers, and the marketplace that UALR’s curriculum is closely tied to professional practice and preparing students to sit for the Chartered Financial Analyst examination, according to Dr. Mark Funk, associate professor in the UALR Department of Economics and Finance.

“This recognition means that UALR’s program prepares its students well to sit for the CFA exam,” said Funk. The CFA exam provides students one of the most respected and recognized investment credentials in the world, he said.

Through participation in this program, UALR is eligible to receive some student scholarships for the CFA Program each year.

About UALR’s Department of Economics and Finance
UALR’s College of Business offers both an Economics major and a Finance major, as well as minors in Economics, Finance, Personal Finance, and Real Estate. Students majoring in Finance develop the strong analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills necessary for success in today’s global business environment. UALR’s finace graduates are extremely successful on the Series 7 exam and on other professional exams necessary for a career in finance.

About CFA Institute
The 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.

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. 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.