Community College Accounting Instructors’ Conference: Sharing Best Practices

• In Event: Reception with ELS Displays
  In Poster Session: Effective Learning Strategies Poster Presentations

Abstract

As a regional comprehensive university, Western Carolina University (WCU) is charged with serving the educational needs of the eight westernmost counties of the state of North Carolina. Many of the college-age residents live in rural communities and have limited financial resources in support of higher education. Further, many wish to remain in the beauty and splendor of the Smoky Mountains, and thus choose to take advantage of the local community colleges to “jump start” their higher educational pursuits.

The faculty at WCU have worked diligently to engage the community college faculty in a number of ways:
• Ten articulation agreements have been penned to allow a smooth transition from community college to WCU.
• Financial support in the way of student scholarships has been provided to selected community college transfer students.
• Membership of our WCU Accounting Advisory Board includes community college accounting faculty.
• WCU hosts community college students for campus events, particularly career-related events.
• WCU hosts luncheons for community college students where representatives from financial aid, advising and admissions as well as accounting faculty and students visit with interested participants.

As presented in The Effective Learning Strategies Poster Session, the most recent innovation being implemented for the first time is a Community College Instructors’ Conference, to be held in spring semester 2013 on the main campus of WCU. The half-day conference will include sharing of pedagogy and best practices among community colleges and WCU faculty.

Authors

• Elizabeth H Jones, Western Carolina University

• Susan L Swanger, Western Carolina University

• Bruce W Runyan, Western Carolina University

• Diania L. McRae, Southwestern Community College