Sources: Stacy Kovar, 785-532-6083, skovar@k-state.edu;
and Mark Linville 785-532-6381, Linville@k-state.edu
News release prepared by: Calin Cooney, 785-532-2535, media@k-state.edu

Tuesday, Oct. 5, 2010

NEW ACCOUNTANCY SEMINARS COURSE PREPARES STUDENTS FOR PROFESSIONAL WORLD

MANHATTAN -- Kansas State University students pursuing their master of accounting degree are keeping up-to-date on current issues in the field through a new seminar course.

The master of accountancy program is partnering with alumni and other practicing accountants to offer weekly, two-hour seminars on current accounting topics.

The course, Seminars in Professional Accounting, is headed by K-State department of accounting faculty members Stacy Kovar, professor and PricewaterhouseCoopers faculty fellow, and Mark Linville, associate professor and BKD faculty fellow.

"We are calling the course a 'bridge to the profession,' in that it allows students to see current topics in the profession and practice participating in seminars similar to those real accountants are involved with throughout their careers," Kovar said.

"The seminar should increase our students' technical knowledge of topics that don’t generally get covered in other classes and that also increase their professionalism," Linville said.

Each seminar has a one-hour presentation by the professional, followed by interactive exercises and small group discussions. The exercises are reviewed by actual professionals in the field, so students receive real feedback about their efforts. The exercises also become part of a student’s personal portfolio.

"By merging the elements of an academic class and the elements of a professional continuing education seminar, we see this seminar as smoothing the transition of our students from the academic to the professional world," Linville said.