Voices

SUNY Oswego awarded PwC grant for minority efforts

The State University of New York Oswego School of Business will apply a $10,000 grant from PricewaterhouseCoopers’ charitable arm to their efforts for the recruitment and retention of minority students.

The 2011 PwC INQuires Grant is meant to create a “Triangle of Support” for minorities in accounting.

Charles Spector, chair of SUNY Oswego’s accounting, finance and law department submitted the proposal.

“There has been a lack of minority students in accounting over the years,” Spector said in a statement. “We’re really happy about this.”

In his proposal, Spector outlined a support structure that includes Catherine Santos, associate provost for multicultural opportunities and programs, and Andrea Zielinski, visiting assistant professor of accounting.

Students will be assigned a faculty adviser upon arrival at the college, a second alumni mentor when they leave and a third mentor will be available to fifth-year graduate accounting majors who are members of finance and accounting honor society Beta Alpha Psi.

The school’s Center for Accounting Research and Education will sponsor the program and assess the results, while alumni support has been generous and frequent, according to Spector.

With the support of the New York State Society of Certified Public Accountants, the school last year launched the Career Opportunities in Accounting Program, which runs from June 27 to 29 this year.

The project, a residential program to help high school juniors learn more about the profession, is not limited to minorities and saw a turn-out of 25 students last year.

Other future plans for the School of Business include a Meet the Accountants program, an introduction to the school’s Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program, visits to area plants and work with faculty, student and alumni faculty.

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