Loras College has bolstered its financial offerings by being welcomed into the CFA Institute University Affiliation Program. Loras becomes just the third higher-education institution in Iowa and the only one that is a small private college to be recognized with both the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA®) designation and have a certified financial planning board-registered program.
To earn the recognition, Loras’ finance program 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 Professional Conduct within the program. This program positions students well to obtain the CFA charter, which has become the most respected and recognized investment credential in the world.
“This one of the top finance designations globally,” Eric Eller, Ph.D., associate professor of finance, said. “It means we are prepping our students to effectively pursue this path and opens up opportunities for scholarships to assist with that pursuit.”
According to Eller, who is a CFA, the road to entry in the program has taken a few years. The courses were mapped out to ensure they covered the necessary CBOK elements adding a financial ethics class in 2019.
“The biggest impact is that students can tout on their resume they completed a program with the CFA affiliation, which demonstrates the depth of their education and what they are capable of,” Eller said.
Entry into the CFA Institute University Affiliation Program signals to potential students, employers and the marketplace that Loras’ 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, Loras is eligible to receive CFA Program Student Scholarships each year.
The CFA Institute is the global association of investment professionals that sets the standard for professional excellence and credentials. The organization is a champion of ethical behavior in investment markets and a respected source of knowledge in the global financial community.
