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CPA Experience at DSU Receives Profession's Top Award
[October 31, 2014]

CPA Experience at DSU Receives Profession's Top Award


(Targeted News Service Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) DICKINSON, N.D., Oct. 29 -- Dickinson State University issued the following news release: The American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) has bestowed one of its top curriculum awards to Dickinson State University's CPA Experience.



Recognizing the program's innovative teaching practices, the CPA Experience received the 2014 George Krull/Grant Thornton Teaching Innovation Award. Dickinson State University (DSU) accounting faculty Ashley Stark, Scott Hanson and Amy Kass lead the accounting program, which encompasses a total of 13 upper-level accounting classes throughout the academic year.

Students come to the CPA Experience's simulated office environment to complete required classwork, tests and discussions while interacting with faculty. The office is open every day, including at least one evening. The program has grown significantly in only two years and includes seven local business professionals.


One of those students is Chris Johnson, a customer service manager for TMI in Dickinson. He said the class flexibility is allowing him to complete his bachelor's degree in accounting while working full-time.

"The program makes it workable through its flexibility in three ways," said Johnson. "First, the in-class hours are flexible and you can work at your own pace - to meet deadlines or faster if you want. Plus, the delivery methods of lectures, textbook, videos, problem sheets and one-on-one with faculty are terrific." The George Krull/Grant Thornton Teaching Innovation Award is one of only three accounting curriculum awards bestowed annually by the 127-year-old AICPA, said Joann David, senior manager for academic initiatives. The organization is the world's largest member association representing the accounting profession, with more than 400,000 members in 145 countries.

"The CPA Experience faculty proposed a totally new approach to student learning," said D.C. Coston, president of DSU. "We deemed it compelling and fascinating and supported its development. Based on positive student performance, this program is helping fulfill DSU's mission of configuring programs which fit the lifestyles of our students." The American Accounting Association (AAA) invited CPA Experience faculty to compete for the award by speaking about the program in Atlanta last summer at its annual conference, explained Hanson. Nearly 3,000 educators from across the world attended the event, of which the AICPA is a major sponsor.

"Every school across the country was there," said Hanson. "(Former secretary of state) Condoleezza Rice was one of the keynote speakers and the accounting faculty from major universities throughout the world were there. For us to present to this group was a huge recognition and honor from the profession." The AICPA sets ethical standards for the profession and U.S. auditing standards for private companies, nonprofit organizations, federal, state and local governments. It develops and grades the Uniform CPA Examination, and offers specialty credentials for CPAs who concentrate on personal financial planning, forensic accounting, business valuation, and information management and technology assurance. Through a joint venture with the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA), it has established the Chartered Global Management Accountant (CGMA) designation which sets a new standard for global recognition of management accounting.

Award sponsors, which include the AICPA, The Federation of Schools of Accountancy and Grant Thornton will provide each award recipient or team with $2,500 at the 2015 AAA annual meeting in Chicago.

DSU is a four-year public university within the North Dakota University System offering 51 bachelor's degrees, four associate degrees and two certificate programs. The university's department of business and management, led by 14 faculty, offers six bachelor degrees and other programs.

The university's classes are offered in Dickinson, Bismarck, and Williston; 81 courses are online. The university's mission is to provide high-quality accessible programs, promote excellence in teaching and learning, support scholarly and creative activities, and to provide services relevant to the economy, health and quality of life for the citizens of North Dakota. For information, contact Mark Billings, director of DSU communications at (701) 483-2595 or at [email protected].

TNS 30TagarumaMar-141031-4920275 30TagarumaMar (c) 2014 Targeted News Service

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