Community College Accounting Instructors’ Conference: Sharing Best Practices

• In Event: Reception with ELS Posters and Research Interaction Forum Posters
  In Poster Session: Effective Learning Strategies

Abstract

Many of the college-age residents within our region live in rural communities and have limited resources in support of higher education, leading them to the local community colleges to “jump start” their higher educational pursuits.

Our university has engaged community college faculty in initiatives that are in alignment with the Pathways Commission Report. In particular:
• Recommendation 4: Develop curriculum models, engaging learning resources, and mechanisms for easily sharing them as well as enhancing faculty development opportunities…
• Recommendation 5: Improve the ability to attract high-potential, diverse entrants into the profession.

Our initiatives include articulation agreements, scholarships for transfer students, cross-populated advisory boards & hosting joint events (such as recruiting, advising, & career-related activities).

We will present the results of our most recent innovation: a Community College Accounting Instructors’ Conference, held during spring semester 2013 on our main campus. The half-day conference included sharing of pedagogy & best practices. Specific topic areas included accreditation, transfer credit, distance learning, student recruitment/retention & what works in the classroom.

Authors

• Elizabeth H Jones, Western Carolina University

• Susan L. Swanger, Western Carolina University

• Bruce W Runyan, Western Carolina University

• Diania McRae, Soutwestern Community College