The AICPA and
With more than 75 volunteers working on more than 17 task forces, the Commission has made substantial progress on a number of recommendations stemming from the Commission’s report, including:
- Proposal for an AP Course in accounting, in conjunction with The College Board.
- Development and distribution of the Pathways Vision Model, emphasizing the importance of professional judgment, the complex thinking that it involves, and the critical role accountants play in the success of corporations, firms, organizations, and governments around the world.
- Integration of professionally oriented faculty. Many colleges and universities are engaging professionally oriented faculty to help bring business-world experience into the classroom and help inform academic research. The Pathways Commission has developed a summary of leading practices, and a set of principles for effectively integrating these members into accounting departments and schools, asking department chairs to sign on as adopters of the principles.
- Expansion of an AAA auditing section “boot camp” program, incorporating current practice issues into accounting classes and research. In the coming year, boot camps are planned for management accounting, tax, and accounting information systems.
“As an educator committed to accounting as a learned profession, I am enthusiastic about continuing work toward Pathways-inspired goals to advance the future of accounting through connecting education and research to practice in service of the public interest,” said Tracey Sutherland, AAA executive director, in a statement.
The AICPA and AAA founded the Pathways Commission in 2010 to study future paths of higher education for those seeking entry into the accounting profession. The Pathways Commission began its work by seeking input across the wide spectrum of the accounting community. Recommendations were
To ensure progress towards the implementation of the recommendations, the AICPA and AAA are transitioning ongoing projects into their respective organizations during the coming year. The transition is slated to be completed by August 1, 2015.
“Accountants play a crucial role in the economy. Therefore, ensuring that our pipeline of talent is supported by an education system that meets the evolving demands of an increasingly complex profession is of the utmost importance,” stated
The following are current members of the Pathways Commission:
- William Ezzell: Pathways Commission co-chair, formerly national managing partner legislative and regulatory relations, Deloitte LLP (retired)
- Mark Higgins: Pathways Commission co-chair, dean, John Cook School of Business, Saint Louis University
- Susan Crosson: senior lecturer in accounting, Emory University
- Ellen Glazerman: executive director, EY Foundation
- Sanjay Gupta: acting dean and Russell E. Palmer Endowed professor of accounting, Eli Broad College of Business, Michigan State University
- Dana Hermanson: Dinos Eminent scholar chair of private enterprise and professor of accounting, Coles College of Business, Kennesaw State University
- William Holder: dean and Alan Casdan dean’s chair, professor of accounting, Leventhal School of Accounting, University of Southern California
- Gail Hoover King: professor of accounting, Purdue University Calumet
- Mark Peecher: Deloitte professor of accountancy, College of Business, University of Illinois
- Terry Shevlin: professor of accounting and director PhD program, Paul Merage School of Business, University of California-Irvine
- D. Scott Showalter: professor of practice, Poole College of Management, North Carolina State University
- Mikel Tiller: chair of graduate programs, Kelley School of Business, Indiana University
- Jan Williams: Dean Emeritus and professor emeritus, University of Tennessee
- Jim Young: chair and Crowe Horwath professor of accountancy, College of Business, Northern Illinois University
For more information on the Pathways Commission, visit their site
