Press Release

July 10, 2017 | By Ohio Wesleyan University

Ohio Wesleyan students J. Graham Littlehale (from left), Jamie Litzler, and Chris Brinich study for the Level 1 Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) exam with help from economics professor Barbara MacLeod. 

Ohio Wesleyan Selected for CFA Institute’s University Affiliation Program

Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) Designation Recognized Worldwide for Professional Excellence

DELAWARE, Ohio – Ohio Wesleyan University students studying finance economics or management economics are now part of a program recognized for its breadth and depth by the CFA Institute University Affiliation Program.

Ohio Wesleyan has been part of the CFA Institute University Recognition Program since 2012 and now has transitioned to the University Affiliation Program.

The new program gives Ohio Wesleyan students access to additional resources and scholarships. It also recognizes that the OWU Department of Economics majors incorporate at least 70 percent of the CFA Program Candidate Body of Knowledge (CBOK) into their curricula and emphasize the CFA Institute Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice.

CFA UAP Logo

This focus helps to prepare students to obtain the Chartered Financial Analyst® designation, widely regarded as the world’s most respected and recognized investment credential.

“The Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) credential is the professional standard of choice for more than 31,000 investment firms worldwide,” according to the CFI Institute. “When hiring, leading firms demand investment professionals with real-world analytical skills, technical competence, and the highest professional standards, often requiring the CFA credential for consideration.”

Ohio Wesleyan’s curriculum also prepares students to sit for their Level 1 CFA examinations, which tests their knowledge of ethical and professional standards as well as their understanding of accounting, economics, and finance, said professor Barbara MacLeod, CFA, chair of the Department of Economics.

“Globally, about 40 percent of candidates taking this rigorous exam pass Level 1 each year,” MacLeod said. “Ohio Wesleyan students, even without the work experience of some of the candidates, have fared much better. In the last four years, approximately two-thirds of our students have passed Level I on their first attempt.”

Ohio Wesleyan’s finance economics major covers foundational finance theory and general skills, such as critical thinking and spreadsheet analysis. It works to prepare students for careers in investment banking, financial planning, wealth management, private equity, corporate finance, and more.

OWU’s management economics major helps prepare students to become business leaders and owners with core classes in both economics and business. Students build a foundation in macro- and micro-economic theory and research methods, as well as the disciplines of marketing, accounting, and finance.

Learn more about these and other Ohio Wesleyan Department of Economics majors and minors at www.owu.edu/economics.

About the CFA Institute
Founded in 1947, the CFA Institute is the global association of investment professionals that sets the standard for professional excellence and credentials. 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 148,000 members in 163 countries and territories, including 142,000 CFA charterholders and 148 member societies. Chartered Financial Analyst is a registered trademark owned by CFA Institute. For more information, visit www.cfainstitute.org.

About Ohio Wesleyan University
Founded in 1842, Ohio Wesleyan University is one of the nation’s premier liberal arts universities. Located in Delaware, Ohio, the private university offers nearly 90 undergraduate majors and competes in 23 NCAA Division III varsity sports. Through Ohio Wesleyan’s signature OWU Connection program, students integrate knowledge across disciplines, build a diverse and global perspective, and apply their knowledge in real-world settings. Ohio Wesleyan is featured in the book “Colleges That Change Lives,” listed on the latest President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll with Distinction, and included in the U.S. News & World Report and Princeton Review “best colleges” lists. Learn more at www.owu.edu.