UA School of Accountancy Hosts Camp to Bring More Diversity to Profession

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — The number of minorities entering the accounting profession is “looking a bit shaky,” according to a survey earlier this year posted on the website DiversityInc.com.

Although some noticeable progress has been made between 2002 and 2008, “the accounting profession has made very limited strides in both attracting and advancing minorities within the field,” according to the study, Minorities in Tax 2010.

But a program introduced by the Culverhouse School of Accountancy at The University of Alabama’s Culverhouse College of Commerce and the Birmingham chapter of the National Association of Black Accountants is doing its part to bring more minorities into the accounting profession.

The Accounting Career Awareness Program will host 25 minority high school students from across Alabama beginning Sunday, June 27 and winding up Friday, July 2.

Doug M. White, CPA, and president of the Birmingham NABA chapter, said the objectives of the week-long event include helping the students learn more about college life and introducing them to accounting careers.

“We have scheduled several prominent college students and business leaders from throughout the state to share their success stories and college survival tips,” White said. “The lessons learned throughout the week will be invaluable, and we hope the students take full advantage of the opportunities that will be presented.”

In addition to NABA and UA, this year the program is sponsored by Alabama Power, the Alabama Society of Certified Public Accountants, Deloitte and Ernst & Young.

The program introduces students to accounting, finance, economics and management through a tailored curriculum involving university faculty and guest lecturers from business and government. Students selected for ACAP receive a full scholarship that covers the cost of tuition, room, meals, books, supplies and transportation.

“We have an outstanding lineup of speakers,” said Dr. Mary Stone, director of the Culverhouse School of Accountancy. “We’ll introduce the students to accountancy, talk about how to maintain their cultural and ethnic identity, stress integrity in business, and present a session on forensic accounting and fraud detection. We also will discuss the practical aspects of attending the university and even get into cash management and financial planning. We also will include a case competition, and we will tour some accounting firms.”