A Proposal to Enhance the Wisconsin Lutheran College Accounting Program

A Proposal to Enhance the Wisconsin Lutheran College

Accounting ProgramIsaac HillDavid Parez

Current Status of Accounting Program Accounting is a possible emphasis of the

Business Administration Major. Students take at least 8 semesters to

complete the emphasis. Program employs one full-time

professor, with several adjunct professors.

Program has been growing over the last few years.

Our Basic Desires1. Creation of an Accounting Major2. Design a track to CPA exam

requirements3. Improve internship opportunities4. Hire more adjunct professors5. Move towards AACSB accreditation

1. Creation of an Accounting Major2. Design a track to CPA exam


Process of Creating an Accounting Major Four major criteria go in to proposing a

major:1. Why is this major being proposed?2. What is the level of student interest

and probable demand in this major?3. How common is this major at other

colleges and universities?4. How does this major adhere to

Wisconsin Lutheran College’s academic goals?

Why is it being proposed? Advertising to future students to

increase enrollment Personalizing education toward

accounting majors Matching massive credit hours with title

of degree Improve resumes and job outlook post-

graduation

What is the level of interest or demand? Advanced Accounting enrollment of 8-10

per semester Intermediate Accounting (1 and 2)

enrollment of 15-20 per semester Demand of accounting jobs and empty

positions

How common is this major?

College Undergrads Accounting Major

Marquette University 8400 YesCardinal Stritch 6000 Yes

Concordia University - Wisconsin 4300 Yes

Carroll University 3300 YesCarthage College 2500 YesEdgewood College 2000 Yes

Mount Mary College 1200 YesWisconsin Lutheran

College 1100 No

Lakeland College 950 Yes

How does this major adhere to college’s academic goals? Assists students to spread Lutheran

message Encourages students to actively learn

and pursue Truth Enhancing learning opportunities by

adding more academic material Attracting prospective students Fulfilling Vision 2020

What classes would need to be added to the curriculum? Information Systems classes

Classes addressing the use of common accounting software in the business field

Gives students hands-on experience with business software

What are the implications of adding this major……on the staff and students?

Additional staff would be required Instructing new courses Preparing for influx of students

Staffing distribution would not be harmed

Ideal class size already exists

What are the implications of adding this major……on the budget?

Minimal hiring of staff Purchase of software for information

systems

What is a CPA? CPA stands for Certified Public Accountant Acquired upon:

Passing a comprehensive exam Attaining a certain amount of work hours

Benefits: Ensures professional competence of an

accountant Provides recognition of credibility to accountant

CPA Exam Requirements:

150 overall credits 24 credits within accounting

150 credits can be achieved through either undergraduate or post-graduate credits

Track to the CPA Exam Students can complete the accounting

degree in 8 semesters, including a full-time internship

Two paths to 150 required credits: Applying to post-graduate program Completing all credits in undergrad

Master’s Program Students can enhance accounting

education through achieving a Master’s Master’s in Accounting Master’s in Taxation

College can form relationships with local Master’s programs UW-Whitewater UW-Milwaukee Marquette

Undergraduate Track In 5th year of studies, students can

complete a minor or other business emphases: Finance Management Marketing

A minor or any combination of two emphases would complete 150 credit requirement

Wisconsin Lutheran College Accounting Path

UW-Milwaukee’s Accounting Path

SEMESTER COURSE COURSE TITLEYear 1 Fall

English 101 Introduction to College WritingBus Adm 230 Introduction to Information

SystemsMath 105 Intermediate AlgebraHumanities General Education RequirementSocial Science General Education Requirement

Spring English 102 College Writing and ResearchMath 211 Survey in Calculus and Analytic

GeometryCommunication 103 or 105 Communication requirementEcon 103 Principles of MicroeconomicsNatural Science/Lab General Education Requirement

Year 2 Fall

Bus Adm 201 (B or better and 3.00 GPA) Introduction to Financial Accounting

Bus Adm 210 Introduction to Management Statistics

Economics 104 Principles of Macroeconomics Humanities General Education RequirementEnglish 205 Business Writing

Spring Bus Adm 301 (B or better) Intermediate AccountingBus Adm 300 (1 credit) Career and Professional

DevelopmentArt General Education RequirementNatural Science General Education Requirement

Social Science/Cultural Diversity General Education Requirement

SEMESTER COURSE COURSE TITLEYear 3 Fall

Bus Adm 402 Advanced Financial AccountingBus Adm 405 Income Tax Accounting IBus Adm 350 Principles of FinanceBus Adm 330 OrganizationsBus Adm 360 Principles of Marketing

Spring Bus Adm 406 Income Tax Accounting IIBus Adm 408 Accounting Information SystemsBus Adm 391 Business LawBus Adm 450 Intermediate FinanceGeneral Elective Business or non-Business Course

Summer

Bus Adm 370 Operations ManagementBusiness Elective Elective Business CourseGeneral Elective Business or non-Business Course

Year 4 Fall

Bus Adm 404 Cost ManagementBus Adm 409 Auditing: Procedures and ApplicationsInternational Business Component Choose 1: Bus Adm 456, 465, 496, 498,

535, 541, 551

Business Elective Elective Business CourseBusiness Elective Elective Business Course

Spring Bus Adm 400 (Business Elective) Accounting InternshipBus Adm 600 Management Analysis

Current Direction of Internships Professor Stelzer is currently working on

attracting local firms Target individual firm, rather than multiple Achieve ongoing relationship with one or

two firms Bring in individual firms to meet on

campus with prospective interns

Issues Facing Accounting Internships Accounting internships are harder to find

than general business internships Little rapport with local firms

Over 25 local accounting companies, ranging in size

Currently two interns at Baker Tilly Difficult to draw attention from multiple firms

Size of student body Age of program

Future Direction of Internships Continue to build rapport with

Milwaukee firms Attempt to host accounting firms on

regular basis Use professors’ histories at local

companies Professor Wagner at Deloitte Professor Derouin at Baker Tilly

Adjunct Professors in theAccounting Program Wisconsin Lutheran College employs 3

or 4 adjunct professors each semester Benefits:

Monetarily efficient Bring work experience to classroom

Future of Adjunct Professors Continue to utilize adjunct professors for

the good of the school and the students Diversify adjunct professors

Accounting firms Small businesses Tax services

Enhance breadth of experience

What is the AACSB? Association to Advance Collegiate

Schools of Business International organization founded with

mission of accrediting business schools Benchmark statistic of good business

schools Under 700 schools worldwide Marquette and UWM are both accredited

Accreditation Process Institution must first be a member of

AACSB through an application process Accreditation is achieved through

subsequent application process Adhere to AACSB standards Approval by committee

Many categories of standards to be met

Benefits of Accreditation International recognition as a business

school Appeal to recruitment offices of major

businesses Only two schools in Milwaukee area with

accreditation Attract better students, professors, and

opportunities

Reality of Accreditation AACSB accreditation is not a near-future

goal Difficult for small schools Requires a lot of changes

Accreditation is a positive long-term goal Focus on reaching the standards Work with what we are blessed with

Conclusion Pleased with the overall progress of

accounting program Proposal evidently shows areas of

potential growth Improving accounting program would

ultimately improve Wisconsin Lutheran College

Questions?

A Proposal to Enhance the Wisconsin Lutheran College Accounting Program

Documents

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