CPE SESSION 13 - Wednesday, 8:00 AM - 12:00 PM

Using the Classroom to Enhance Research Productivity and Motivate Students to Pursue the CPA Examination

Description/Objectives:
The theme and objectives of the workshop are aligned with the mission of the Section, the recruitment and retention of accounting faculty and students. In this respect, the workshop addresses the needs of our constituency and their students.

The purpose of the workshop is to discuss the fundamentals of research and publication from the viewpoint of faculty employed at schools with mission statements that focus primarily on teaching and professional service. By focusing on the unique environment of these institutions, this integrated workshop will also provide resources and strategies useful in motivating students to pursue and successfully complete the CPA exam. The participants will receive updated information about the new CPA Computerized Exam.

To motivate faculty to pursue research, the workshop will illustrate the basic research process for a paper including writing a paper for any journal vs. a specific journal, and research publication using class materials and/or administrative experiences. The workshop will also familiarize faculty with the Computerized CPA exam and provide participants with strategies for motivating students to pursue the examination. To sensitize participants relevant to student concerns, the Gary Siegel Organization (GSO) focus-group research findings will be discussed. This focus-group research project identified issues and concerns of potential examination candidates.

The workshop will delineate how research and students' pursuit of the CPA exam benefits the school, faculty, and student-and why both are of paramount importance to the growth of an accounting program.

Format/Structure:
During the first half of the workshop, presenters will provide updates on the CPA Computerized Examination and introduce information to motivate students to pursue and complete the exam. Topics include:

• Benefits
• Examination structure, content, length, conditioning, transitioning, and preparation.
• Communicating an awareness of the Computer-Based Examination.
• Issues of student exam candidates from diverse populations.

The presenters and panel will discuss research and publication topics including:

• Writing for any journal vs. a specific journal.
• Avoiding co-author pitfalls.
• Generating senior faculty feedback.
• Marketing the paper and managing the review process.
• Maximizing competitive knowledge.
• Handling setbacks/rejections.
• Publishing from class materials and/or administrative experiences.
• Publishing in books, instructor's manuals, and authoring a paperback.

Intended Audience:
The intended audience includes faculty employed at schools with mission statements that focus primarily on teaching and professional service. Other faculty interested in researching, publishing, and motivating students to pursue the new computerized CPA examination would benefit from this integrated workshop, including new faculty members entering research mission-driven institutions.

Presenters:
Gregory Johnson, American Institute of Certified Public Accountants
Robert Strawser, Texas A&M University
Cynthia Jackson, Northeastern University
Jennifer Joe, Georgia State University

Sponsors:
Faculty Diversity and Initiatives Section and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants Minority Initiatives Committee