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Local accounting practices and university accounting departments seek to work together to increase the number and quality of new entrants into the accounting profession. Accounting practices benefit by having students with work experience entering the accounting work force after graduation. Universities (and their students) benefit by improving the number of students hired immediately upon graduation. A student organization sponsored by a local business to provide free tax services through the United Way’s Voluntary Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program accomplishes both objectives while providing a highly beneficial community service. A partnership between the business community and a student organization, National Association of Black Accountants’ (NABA) student chapter at a University increased the number of students benefiting from experiential learning through the United Way VITA program. The community benefited from the quality tax services that were provided at no charge to those less fortunate (and steering them away from the tax refund loan scams). We find that when this NABA student chapter partnered with the local business community, the number of students engaged in tax experiential learning increased by more than 100 percent, the impact of the VITA program on the local community increased more than 100 percent, and the sponsoring business received publicity.
Jenice J Prather-Kinsey, University of Alabama-Birmingham
James D Byrd, University of Alabama-Birmingham