Martin J. Whitman School of Management Syracuse University ORANGEACCOUNTING NEWS News for Alumni and Friends of the Joseph I. Lubin School of Accounting September 2007 Pioneering iMS in The iMS in Accounting Accounting Launched HOW IT WORKS esponding to the needs of accounting is seen as highly desirable accounting professionals who preparation for the sophistication and want to earn a master’s degree complexities in the profession today. For in a timely manner without many practicing accountants, it’s also Rjumping off the career track, the Whit- the most efficient route to earning the • 30 credits for qualified students man School has launched the iMS in additional hours typically needed beyond Accounting, the only program of its kind the undergraduate degree in order to be • Typically completed in five in New York State. Built on the same eligible for CPA certification.” semesters model as the school’s highly respected In most states, CPA certification • Students spend a week on iMBA, the 30-credit program blends requires 150 credit-hours of collegiate the Syracuse University campus three weeks of residency per year on the training—30 hours beyond the typical at the start of each trimester SU campus with extended periods of undergraduate program. This require- in intense class sessions with distance-learning. ment will become effective in New York faculty and classmates. “The career opportunities in ac- in 2009. • Students work independently counting today are tremendous,” says “The timing for the launch of the through the remainder of the Professor Randal Elder, director of iMS couldn’t be better,” notes Donald term using an online course Whitman’s Joseph I. Lubin School of Favre of PricewaterhouseCoopers. Favre management system. Accounting. “But so are the demands to leads PwC’s International Banking Tax • The Whitman iMS program fea- perform and contribute, and the MS in Practice and is a partner in its Metro tures the same curriculum and faculty as Whitman’s full-time MS continued on page 4 in accounting, and the degree awarded is the same. Accredited by AACSB International and registered with New York State as a 150- hour qualifying licensure program. Inside This Issue From the Director ......................... 2 Dean’s Update ............................... 6 Alumni Profile ............................... 8 Placement ..................................... 9 Faculty Research ........................... 10 Alumni Notes ................................ 15 Whitman MS in Accounting students 2 Joseph I. Lubin School of Accounting Orange Accounting News September 2007 A MESSAGE FROM THE DIRECTOR For those needing additional courses to Meeting the Need for meet the 150-hour rule, the Lubin School’s Qualified Accounting iMS in accounting provides an innovative solution. This limited residency distance Talent education program is patterned after the Whitman School’s successful iMBA and t’s hard to believe that it has been students can transfer seamlessly between more than five years since the pas- the full-time MS in accounting and iMS sage of the Sarbanes–Oxley Act. While program, giving them the flexibility to the costs and benefits of the Act have time their entrance into the profession and Ibeen greatly debated, all would agree that choose the educational approach that best its impact on the accounting profession has meets their needs. Elective courses from the been profound. iMBA and SU’s nationally renowned School Sarbanes-Oxley has not only signifi- of Information Studies give our master’s cantly changed the practice of accounting, students added value and skills and help it has heightened the demand for account- meet the increased demand for students ing graduates with advanced skills. In turn, trained in both information systems and pressures have mounted for accounting edu- business. cators to meet the fresh needs of employers Although there has been an upturn in and students. accounting enrollments, even more account- The increased demand for exceptionally ing graduates are necessary to meet the trained accounting graduates was exacerbat- needs of the profession. Through Syracuse ed by Sarbanes–Oxley’s enactment shortly University Project Advance, high school after most states implemented the 150-hour students can now take introductory financial rule for CPA licensure. New York is one of accounting for college credit. The program the last states to implement the 150-hour ensures that high-achieving high school requirement, with a 2009 effective date, and students’ first exposure to accounting is in anticipation of this milestone, account- positive and accelerates their accounting ing programs in New York have evolved to studies in college. prepare graduates for the new reality. We’re proud of these innovative pro- In the Lubin School, we’ve developed grams—and we’ll continue to evolve to meet new programs to help address employers’ the ever-changing needs of our employer needs for qualified staff and meet students’ partners and students. needs for the additional coursework needed for licensure—programs targeted toward pre-college and post-baccalaureate students. Martin J. Whitman School of Management Syracuse University LUBIN SCHOOL OF ACCOUNTING FACULTY Kofi Appiah Okyere Michel Benaroch Randy Elder Assistant Professor Professor of Professor of of Accounting Management Accounting and PhD, University Information Systems Director of the of Wisconsin PhD, New York Lubin School University PhD, Michigan State University Mitch Franklin Leon Hanouille David Harris Assistant Professor Assistant Professor Associate Professor of Accounting of Accounting of Accounting PhD, Walden PhD, Syracuse University Director, George E. University Bennett Center for Tax Research PhD, University of Michigan Don Harter Badr Ismail Yogesh Malhotra Assistant Professor Professor of Assistant Professor of Management Accounting of Management Information Systems Director, MS Program Information Systems PhD, Carnegie PhD, University PhD, University Mellon University of Illinois of Pittsburgh Mohamed Onsi Alex Thevaranjan Padmal Vitharana Emeritus Professor Associate Professor Associate Professor of Accounting of Accounting of Management PhD, University PhD, University Information Systems of Illinois of Minnesota PhD, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee William Walsh Hong Xie Joyce Zadzilka Assistant Professor Assistant Professor Assistant Professor of Accounting of Accounting of Accounting Director, iMS Program PhD, University of Iowa MBA, Syracuse MBA, Syracuse University University Joseph I. Lubin School of Accounting Orange Accounting News September 2007 BAP Offers Syracuse Community Free Tax Assistance or many, tax season can be a “For others, the earned income credit nightmare. The tight dead- can complicate the return. By extending lines, complicated IRS forms, the VITA program into the community, BAP Honored and fear of error often require we’ve been able to save many individu- for Community Findividuals to seek assistance from als money by accurately completing tax expensive accounting firms or govern- forms for them at no charge.” Engagement ment agencies. This year, members of The dedication of these Whitman the Syracuse community easily avoided accounting students during tax season SU’s chapter of these extra expenses by simply visiting was acknowledged in an article titled Beta Alpha Psi, the Whitman School of Management “Facing Down Form 1040” featured the honorary before the April 17 deadline. in the February 20 edition of Business organization for Beginning in early February, the SU Week. In this article, Whitman account- chapter of Beta Alpha Psi (BAP) recruit- ing freshman Jorie Didier was quoted accounting and ed 20 of its members to carry on the explaining why so many people experi- other financial organization’s long-standing tradition ence anxiety during tax season. “I think information stu- of lending a helping hand during tax the scariest part of filing taxes is [the dents, was awarded its season. For three decades undergradu- possibility of] getting in trouble with the sixth Chancellor’s Award for Public ate accounting students enrolled in the authorities, even if you make a mistake Engagement in March. The annual Lubin School of Accounting at Whitman by accident,” says Didier. have been IRS certified and trained to Fears aide, about 100 students, Syracuse University honor recog- provide assistance on non-complicated faculty, staff, and community members nizes campus organizations and IRS short forms (1040EZ or 1040A). sought help from the VITA group during individuals who contribute most As with many of the fraternity’s the two-month span of the program. Even to improving the quality of life in service projects, the Volunteer Income though the frustrated tax filers may seem Greater Syracuse. Tax Assistance group (VITA) extended to be receiving all the benefit of this free BAP was lauded for its broad its services beyond the campus, assisting service, the accounting students also take low-income community members at the a lot away from the experience. “This pro- engagement with the community, Mundy Branch Library in Syracuse. gram allowed students to put into action through its involvement in the IRS “For many lower-income families, all of the information they were learn- Volunteer Income Tax Assistance the tax return can be rather simple once ing in their classes,” says Franklin. “The (VITA) program, and the tutoring they have an understanding of the appro- students also become more marketable to and mentoring members