2024 Spark Meeting

MONDAY, JUNE 3, 2024

10:45 am – 11:00 am ET

Break

11:00 am – 12:00 pm ET

Plenary: Current Developments in Artificial Intelligence and Its Relevance to Accounting

Speaker: Abby Zhang, University of Texas at San Antonio

This plenary will begin with an overview of the landscape of AI before and after the advent of ChatGPT. Then, through real-world examples, the speaker will showcase multifaceted applications of AI across firms’ different business functions and how accounting firms are leveraging AI. Further, the speaker will offer an academic perspective on the implications, opportunities, and challenges presented by AI application. The plenary will conclude with discussions of risks related to AI and how AI will impact accounting education and the workforce. 
 
 

12:00 pm – 12:30 pm ET

Lunch Break

12:30 pm – 1:30 pm ET

Concurrent Session Tracks

Sharpen Your Teaching Skills Sessions

Paper Sessions with Moderators, Discussants & Q&A

Dialogue/Panel Sessions

1:30 pm - 2:00 pm ET

Break

2:00 pm – 3:00 pm ET

Concurrent Session Tracks

Sharpen Your Teaching Skills Session

Paper Sessions with Moderators, Discussants & Q&A

Dialogue/Panel Sessions

3:00 pm - 3:30 pm ET

Break

3:30 pm - 4:30 pm ET

Concurrent Session Tracks

Sharpen Your Teaching Skills Sessions

Paper Sessions with Moderators, Discussants & Q&A

Dialogue/Panel Sessions

4:30 pm - 5:00 pm ET

Break

5:00 pm - 6:00 pm ET

Concurrent Session Tracks

Sharpen Your Teaching Skills Sessions
 
Paper Sessions with Moderators, Discussants & Q&A

Dialogue/Panel Sessions

6:00 pm - 7:00 pm ET

Social Hour for all Regions

TUESDAY, JUNE 4, 2024

10:45 am – 11:00 am ET

Break

11:00 am – 12:00 pm ET

Concurrent Session Tracks

 Sharpen Your Teaching Skills Session

Paper Sessions with Moderators, Discussants & Q&A

Dialogue/Panel Sessions

12:00 pm - 12:30 pm ET

Lunch Break

12:30 pm - 1:30 pm ET

Concurrent Session Tracks

 Sharpen Your Teaching Skills Sessions

Paper Sessions with Moderators, Discussants & Q&A

Dialogue/Panel Sessions

1:30 pm - 2:00 pm ET

Break

2:00 pm - 3:00 pm ET

Concurrent Session Tracks

Sharpen Your Teaching Skills Sessions

Paper Sessions with Moderators, Discussants & Q&A

Dialogue/Panel Sessions

3:00 pm - 3:30 pm ET

Break

3:30 pm - 4:30 pm ET

Concurrent Session Tracks

Sharpen Your Teaching Skills Sessions

Paper Sessions with Moderators, Discussants & Q&A

Dialogue/Panel Sessions

4:30 pm - 5:00 pm ET

Break
 

5:00 pm - 6:00 pm ET

Plenary: Update on Accounting Pipeline Initiatives

Moderator: Rebecca Shortridge, University of Tennessee at Chattanooga

Panelists:
Harrison Bass, Forage
Laura Mills, Forage
Sean Crevier,  ACTE National Board

The AAA and NABA sponsored a symposium in September 2023 to discuss challenges facing the profession because of a decline in the accounting pipeline.  Four working groups were established to develop solutions:  High Schools, Community Colleges, Branding, and the Principles Course.  Leaders of the four working groups will highlight various initiatives considered and progress on each

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 5, 2024

10:45 am – 11:00 am ET

Break

11:00 am – 12:00 pm ET

Plenary: A Conversation with Joel Black, Chair of the GASB: Projects, Research and Engagement Activities

Speaker: Joel Black, Governmental Accounting Standards Board

This session will provide an overview of the current projects, research, and activities of the Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB) with focus areas being (1) current projects on infrastructure assets and going concern uncertainty/severe financial stress, (2) monitoring of the impact of technology on governmental financial reporting, (3) early stages of the GASB’s work on a financial statement taxonomy, and (4) the GASB’s post-implementation review process.   Included in this session will be a discussion on how the academic community can engage with the GASB and its current activities.
 

12:00 pm – 12:30 pm ET

Lunch Break

12:30 pm - 1:30 pm ET

Concurrent Session Tracks

Sharpen Your Teaching Skills Session

Paper Sessions with Moderators, Discussants & Q&A

Dialogue/Panel Sessions

1:30 pm - 2:00 pm ET

Break

2:00 pm - 3:00 pm ET

Concurrent Session Tracks

Sharpen Your Teaching Skills Sessions

Paper Sessions with Moderators, Discussants & Q&A

Dialogue/Panel Sessions

3:00 pm - 3:30 pm ET

Break

3:30 pm - 4:30 pm ET

Concurrent Session Tracks

Sharpen Your Teaching Skills Sessions

Paper Sessions with Moderators, Discussants & Q&A

Dialogue/Panel Sessions

4:30 pm - 5:00 pm ET

Break

5:00 pm - 6:00 pm ET

Concurrent Session Tracks

Sharpen Your Teaching Skills Sessions

Paper Sessions with Moderators, Discussants & Q&A

Dialogue/Panel Sessions