School of Accounting Strategic Plan

Reflecting Central Michigan University’s Strategic Plan: Advancing Excellence (2017-2022) and the College of Business Administration’s Strategic Plan (2019-2020)

Mission

We nurture student success by providing a transformative educational experience.

Vision

We prepare our graduates to become accounting professionals who significantly impact their organizations and communities.

Core Values

Student-centered learning. We value rigorous, active, lifelong learning.
Business Connected. We value ongoing engagement with the business community and adaptable programs designed to meet current and future business needs.
Broadly Educated. We value a broad educational background that cultivates critical thinking and innovation.
Integrity. We value ethical and socially responsible behavior.
Relevant Research. We value intellectual contributions that impact accounting and business practices, policy, theory, and pedagogy.
Diversity and Inclusion. We value collegiality, diversity, and inclusion where ideas are judged on the strength of their intellectual merit.

CMU Academic Excellence imperatives

Imperative I: Nurturing Student Success

“CMU provides a transformative education to prepare students for successful careers and fulfilling lives. Successful students complete their programs of study in a reasonable amount of time and are well prepared for careers and/or postgraduate study. Alumni perceive their CMU education as a sound investment” (from Advancing Excellence: CMU’s Strategic Plan, 2017-2022)

The SOA values active, rigorous, student-centered learning. It provides a transformative education to prepare students for successful careers in accounting, business, and/or postgraduate studies while helping them to complete their program of study in a reasonable amount of time. We seek to meet the changing educational needs of students with a curriculum that encompasses the current demands of the accounting profession.

School of Accounting's Strategies for Imperative I

Strategy 1

We offer rigorous, active, student-centered learning in courses.

Target/Outcome	Actions	Metrics/Measurements (Data Sources)
Maintain or increase the proportion of faculty participating in at least one teaching-oriented program each year (e.g., CETL program, AAA workshop, AACSB symposium, or other activity)	Provide financial support for faculty to attend training programs (ongoing) SOA brown bag for best practices in teaching and for updates in the curriculum (2020) Monitor currency of curriculum and teaching strategies used (ongoing)	OFIS Assurance of Learning data RPT review material and UTF evaluation forms SOA Faculty Survey

Strategy 2

We engage students in transformational experiences:

Promote internship opportunities.
Assist students to obtain professional certifications.
Encourage students to participate in Registered Student Organizations (RSOs).

Strategy 2(a)

Promote Internship Opportunities

Target/Outcome	Actions	Metrics/Measurements (Data Sources)
Maintain or increase the proportion of faculty participating in at least one teaching-oriented program each year (e.g., CETL program, AAA workshop, AACSB symposium, or other activity)	Foster relationships with employers (ongoing) Educate students about the importance of internships (ongoing) Inform students of internship and leadership opportunities (ongoing) Advise Students when to apply for internships and how to arrange coursework (ongoing)	CBA Exit Survey, (e.g., Mgt. 499) SOA Faculty Survey SOA Exit Exam Survey Major Signing Packet Materials SOA Chair Worksheet (2020)

Strategy 2(b)

Assist students to obtain professional certifications

Target/Outcome	Actions	Metrics/Measurements (Data Sources)
Maintain or increase the proportion of accounting majors intending to pursue professional certification (e.g., CMA, CPA)	Include relevant certification information in the SOA advising packet (ongoing) Hold an annual Professional Certification Information Session for accounting majors (2020)	CBA Exit Survey (e.g., Mgt. 499) SOA Exit Exam Survey Major Signing Packet Materials

Strategy 2(c)

Encourage students to participate in Registered Student Organizations (RSOs).

Target/Outcome	Actions	Metrics/Measurements (Data Sources)
Maintain or increase the proportion of accounting students involved in an accounting or business-related RSO	Support student organizations (ongoing) Include student organization information in the major signing packet materials (ongoing) Inform students of accounting organization activities in major signing packet materials (2020)	CBA Exit Survey (e.g., Mgt. 499) Faculty Survey SOA Exit Exam Survey Major Signing Packet Materials

Strategy 3

We provide opportunities for students to seek and secure employment in accounting-related fields upon graduation (including admission to graduate school) and maintain communication with alumni.

Target/Outcome	Actions	Metrics/Measurements (Data Sources)
Maintain or increase the proportion of graduating accounting majors who have secured full-time employment in an accounting-related field and remain connected to the SOA	Support Career Fairs (e.g., Meet the Recruiters) (ongoing) Encourage classroom visits by recruiters (ongoing) Support employer networking events (ongoing) Require students to use College and Career Development Services (e.g., mock interviews, resume review) and to attend other Career Development events (ongoing) Encourage participation in the SOA Resume Workshop (ongoing) Encourage students to join LinkedIn (2020) Survey Alumni one and five years after graduation (2021)	CBA Exit Survey (e.g., Mgt. 499) Survey Data from Career Development Center SOA Exit Exam Survey Academic, Planning, and Analysis (APA) Data SOA Faculty Survey SOA LinkedIn Page

Strategy 4

We invest in retaining our students and graduating them in a timely manner:

Facilitate student success in the accounting curriculum.
Facilitate minimizing the number of credit hours to graduate.

Strategy 4(a)

Facilitate student success in the accounting curriculum.

Target/Outcome	Actions	Metrics/Measurements (Data Sources)
Maintain or increase student retention for accounting majors	Hold faculty workshops to discuss and share successful teaching strategies (2020) Inform CBA Student Services of preferred pathways for timely graduation for accounting majors (ongoing) Educate faculty on best practices for accounting advising (ongoing) Enhance consistency in expectations across accounting courses (ongoing) Require each accounting major meet at least once (e.g. at end of junior year) with an accounting faculty advisor to review degree progress (2020) Facilitate student tutoring (ongoing)	Academic Planning and Analysis (APA) Retention Data SOA Faculty Survey CBA Student Services Materials SOA Exit Exam Survey

Strategy 4(b)

Facilitate minimizing the number of credit hours to graduate.

Target/Outcome	Actions	Metrics/Measurements (Data Sources
Maintain or reduce the average number of credit hours students complete at graduation	Inform CBA Student Services of preferred pathways for timely graduation for accounting majors (ongoing) Update accounting major maps to facilitate timely graduation (ongoing) Require each accounting major meet at least once (e.g. at end of junior year) with an accounting faculty advisor to review degree progress (2020) Provide student advising to maximize ‘double-counting toward degree requirements (ongoing) Monitor trends in hours to graduation for accounting majors (2020) Promote accelerated MBA Program (ongoing)	Curricular Actions Academic Planning and Analysis Major Signing Packet Materials SOA Exit Exam Survey SOA Faculty Survey

Strategy 5

We commit to increasing diversity in the SOA.

Target/Outcome	Actions	Metrics/Measurements (Data Sources
Recruit and support students and faculty from underrepresented groups	Target recruitment material and social media to underrepresented groups (ongoing) Support NABA (ongoing) Track demographic differences between SOA and CBA (2020)	Academic Planning & Analysis (APA) Demographic Data Faculty Personnel Services

Imperative II: Fostering Scholarly Activity

“CMU encourages a scholarly environment that attracts and fosters talented and diverse students, faculty and staff. Scholarship is essential to the intellectual life of a university and its accreditation. We embrace a broad view of scholarship, recognizing the value of theoretical and applied research, field-specific and interdisciplinary research, creative efforts, artistic performances, and pedagogical inquiry” (from Advancing Excellence: CMU’s Strategic Plan, 2017-2022)

The SOA encourages a scholarly environment. Scholarship is essential to the intellectual life of the SOA and its accreditation. We embrace a broad view of scholarship, recognizing the value of theoretical and applied research, field-study and interdisciplinary research, and pedagogical inquiry.

School of Accounting's Strategies for Imperative II

Strategy 1

Faculty are engaged in quality research that is visible to the public.

Target/Outcome	Actions	Metrics/Measurements (Data Sources)
All research-active faculty will have a Google Scholar profile and upload scholarly work into SSRN	Provide training and support for creating Google Scholar and SSRN accounts (2020) Require a Google Scholar profile and an SSRN manuscript upload of research for professional development funds (ongoing)	Google Scholar (track percentage of faculty with profiles and total SOA citations) SSRN (track percentage of faculty with profiles, and total SOA downloads)

Strategy 2

Faculty present and publish research that has impact.

Target/Outcome	Actions	Metrics/Measurements (Data Sources)
Increase or maintain the percentage of faculty who publish in an academic, practitioner, and pedagogical journals	Support faculty to present at conferences (ongoing) Support research that impacts theory, policy, practice, and pedagogy (ongoing) Hold SOA faculty brown bags to informally share ideas and insights (2020)	OFIS Research Credit Awards SOA Faculty Survey)

Strategy 3

Faculty continue to meet AACSB standards for faculty qualifications and scholarly activity.

Target/Outcome	Actions	Metrics/Measurements (Data Sources)
Maintain AACSB requirements for accreditation in the four qualification areas: SA ≥ 40%, SA + PA + SP ≥ 60%, and SA + PA + SP + IP ≥ 90%	Review faculty status in all Article 6 and all reappointment, promotion, and tenure (RPT) decisions as well as UTF Evaluation Forms (annually) (ongoing)	OFIS AACSB Short Vita AACSB Tables Article 6 & RPT Documentation UTF Evaluation Forms

Strategy 4

faculty offer opportunities to work with students on scholarly activities.

Target/Outcome	Actions	Metrics/Measurements (Data Sources)
Maintain or increase the number of Honors contracts and capstones completed with students	Support faculty who participate in Honors contracts and capstones (ongoing) Promote relationships with Honors Department (ongoing)	OFIS SOA Faculty Survey Honors Department Data SOA Exit Exam Survey

Imperative III: Strengthening Partnerships in Michigan and Beyond

“CMU values community partnerships. We will emphasize partnerships with alumni, communities, corporations, government agencies and nonprofit organizations that lead to mutual growth and enhancement, starting with those in Michigan and going beyond to our country and the world” (from Advancing Excellence: CMU’s Strategic Plan, 2017-2022)

The SOA values and seeks partnerships with professional accounting firms, corporations, government agencies, nonprofit organizations, and alumni to form strong stakeholder commitments with the SOA.

School of Accounting's Strategies for Imperative III

Strategy 1

Faculty engage employers and partners in SOA events.

Target/Outcome	Actions	Metrics/Measurements (Data Sources)
All faculty participate in at least one activity or event annually that engages faculty, students, and other constituents	Support SOA professional and social events (ongoing) Encourage participation of stakeholders in SOA activities (e.g., classroom presentations, RSO speaker) (ongoing) Hold annual/biannual Advisory Board Meetings (ongoing) Survey alumni (2021) Support Meet the Recruiter event (ongoing)	OFIS SOA Faculty Surveys

Strategy 2

Faculty participate in the professional and academic accounting communities.

Target/Outcome	Actions	Metrics/Measurements (Data Sources)
Maintain or increase the proportion of faculty who participate in accounting related organizations	Support faculty membership in professional accounting and business organizations (ongoing) Support faculty attendance at professional conferences (ongoing)	OFIS SOA Faculty Surveys

Strategy 3

Faculty participate in the professional and academic accounting communities.

Target/Outcome	Actions	Metrics/Measurements (Data Sources)
Maintain or increase the percentage of faculty who participate in events to engage non-SOA students	Participate in events such as CBA Day, Fire-up Fridays, CMU and You Day (2022)	OFIS SOA Faculty Surveys

Assurance of Learning Plan

Updated April 2019

Student Learning Goals

Upon completion of the accounting program, the student will be able to:

Apply technology to solve accounting problems.
Use critical thinking/problem-solving skills to make appropriate accounting decisions.
Analyze and communicate business and financial information effectively.
Understand the professional responsibilities, ethical standards, and regulatory environment of accountants.
Demonstrate competency in core accounting concepts and knowledge.

Student Learning Goal #1

Apply technology to solve accounting problems.

Student Successes:

Using Excel to solve accounting problems
Using professional databases to resolve accounting issues
Using visualization software

Student Learning Outcome (SLO)	Course Accountable for SLO	Measurement Method and Performance Metric	Performance Target
students will use Excel to solve accounting problems and report results	ACC 321	Method: Excel problem Metric: The proportion of students who provide the correct answer	Exceed: ≥ 90% of students provide the correct answer Acceptable (Met): Between 75% and 89% of students provide the correct answer Unacceptable: < 75% provide the correct answer
students will use databases to solve accounting issues	ACC 302, 311
	ACC 531	Method: FASB Codification Research project Metric: The proportion of students who find the correct source(s)	Exceed: ≥ 90% of students find the correct source(s) Acceptable (Met): Between 75% and 89% find the correct source(s) Unacceptable: < 75% find the correct source(s)
	ACC 311	Method: Tax Research project Metric: The proportion of students who find the correct source of tax law	Exceed: ≥ 90% of students find the correct source(s) Acceptable (Met): Between 75% and 89% find the correct source(s) Unacceptable: < 75% find the correct source(s)
students will use appropriate visualization software to solve accounting issues	ACC 531	Method: Data analytics case Metric: Proportion of students who complete 95% of the assignment correctly	Exceed: ≥ 90% of students complete 95% of the assignment correctly Acceptable (Met): Between 75% and 89% of students complete 95% of the assignment correctly Unacceptable: < 75% of students complete 95% of the assignment correctly

Student Learning Goal #2

Use critical thinking/problem-solving skills to make appropriate accounting decisions.

Student Successes:

Providing resolutions to financial accounting and tax issues using the appropriate literature sources
Providing an appropriate resolution when analyzing data

Student Learning Outcome (SLO);	Course Accountable for SLO	Measurement Method and Performance Metric	Performance Target
students will provide the correct resolution to financial accounting issues using relevant literature	ACC 302	Method: Research Project Metric: The proportion of students who provided a correct answer to the issue	Exceed: ≥ 90% of students provide a correct answer Acceptable (Met): Between 75% and 89% of students provide a correct answer Unacceptable: < 75% provide a correct answer
students will provide the correct resolution to a tax issue using appropriate sources of tax law (i.e., IRC, Treas. Reg., IRS ruling, and /or court case)	ACC 311	Method: Research Project Metric: The proportion of students who provided a correct answer to the issue	Exceed: ≥ 90% of students provide a correct answer Acceptable (Met): Between 75% and 89% of students provide a correct answer Unacceptable: < 75% provide a correct answer
students will analyze data to resolve an accounting issue	ACC 531	Method: Data analytics case Metric: The proportion of students who provided an appropriate resolution to an issue	Exceed: ≥ 90% of students provide an appropriate resolution Acceptable (Met): Between 75% and 89% of students provide an appropriate resolution Unacceptable: < 75% provide an appropriate resolution

Student Learning Outcome (SLO);

Course Accountable for SLO

Measurement Method and
Performance Metric

Performance Target

students will provide the correct resolution to financial accounting issues using relevant literature

ACC 302

Method:
Research Project

Metric:
The proportion of students who provided a correct answer to the issue

Exceed:
≥ 90% of students provide a correct answer

Acceptable (Met):
Between 75% and 89% of students provide a correct answer

Unacceptable:
< 75% provide a correct answer

students will provide the correct resolution to a tax issue using appropriate sources of tax law (i.e., IRC, Treas. Reg., IRS ruling, and /or court case)

ACC 311

Method:
Research Project

Metric:
The proportion of students who provided a correct answer to the issue

Exceed:
≥ 90% of students provide a correct answer

Acceptable (Met):
Between 75% and 89% of students provide a correct answer

Unacceptable:
< 75% provide a correct answer

students will analyze data to resolve an accounting issue

ACC 531

Method:
Data analytics case

Metric:
The proportion of students who provided an appropriate resolution to an issue

Exceed:
≥ 90% of students provide an appropriate resolution

Acceptable (Met):
Between 75% and 89% of students provide an appropriate resolution

Unacceptable:
< 75% provide an appropriate resolution

Student Learning Goal #3

Analyze and communicate business and financial information effectively.

Student Successes:

Preparing financial statements
Analyzing financial accounting issues to formulate an appropriate accounting and reporting resolution
Analyzing business decisions relating to planning and the implementation of plans

Opportunities for Improvement

Analyzing budget variances

Student Learning Outcome (SLO);	Course Accountable for SLO	Measurement Method and Performance Metric	Performance Target
students will display the ability to maintain a basic system of double-entry accounting, know the accounting cycle, and construct financial statements according to GAAP	ACC 301	Method: Accounting cycle case Metric: The proportion of students who achieve a score of 75% or better	Exceed: ≥ 90% of students provide achieve a satisfactory score Acceptable (Met): Between 75% and 89% of students achieve a satisfactory score Unacceptable: < 75% achieve a satisfactory score
students will apply managerial accounting concepts to appropriately analyze business decisions relating to planning, implementation of plans, and measuring and comparing performance to planned performance	ACC 321	Method: Budget variance analysis project Metric: Proportion of students who provide an appropriate analysis	Exceed: ≥ 90% of students provide an appropriate analysis Acceptable (Met): Between 75% and 89% of students provide an appropriate analysis Unacceptable: < 75% provide an appropriate analysis
students will analyze financial accounting issues to formulate an appropriate accounting and reporting resolution	ACC 501	Method: Case project Metric: Proportion of students who provide a correct solution	Exceed: ≥ 90% of students provide a correct answer Acceptable (Met): Between 75% and 89% of students provide a correct answer Unacceptable: < 75% provide a correct answer

Student Learning Outcome (SLO);

Course Accountable for SLO

Measurement Method and Performance Metric

Performance Target

students will display the ability to maintain a basic system of double-entry accounting, know the accounting cycle, and construct financial statements according to GAAP

ACC 301

Method:
Accounting cycle case

Metric:
The proportion of students who achieve a score of 75% or better

Exceed:
≥ 90% of students provide achieve a satisfactory score

Acceptable (Met):
Between 75% and 89% of students achieve a satisfactory score

Unacceptable:
< 75% achieve a satisfactory score

students will apply managerial accounting concepts to appropriately analyze business decisions relating to planning, implementation of plans, and measuring and comparing performance to planned performance

ACC 321

Method:
Budget variance analysis project

Metric:
Proportion of students who provide an appropriate analysis

Exceed:
≥ 90% of students provide an appropriate analysis

Acceptable (Met):
Between 75% and 89% of students provide an appropriate analysis

Unacceptable:
< 75% provide an appropriate analysis

students will analyze financial accounting issues to formulate an appropriate accounting and reporting resolution

ACC 501

Method:
Case project

Metric:
Proportion of students who provide a correct solution

Exceed:
≥ 90% of students provide a correct answer

Acceptable (Met):
Between 75% and 89% of students provide a correct answer

Unacceptable:
< 75% provide a correct answer

Student Learning Goal #4

Understand the professional responsibilities, ethical standards, and regulatory environment of accountants.

Student Successes:

Understanding the regulatory environment for internal controls
Identifying ethical violations

Opportunities for Improvement

Applying ethical standards to fact situations

Student Learning Outcome (SLO);	Course Accountable SLO	Measurement Method and Performance Metric	Performance Target
students will demonstrate an understanding of the regulatory environment	ACC 370	Method: Internal control case Metric: Proportion of students who complete 80% of the assignment correctly	Exceed: ≥ 90% of students complete 80% of the assignment correctly Acceptable (Met): Between 75% and 89% of students complete 80% of the assignment correctly Unacceptable: < 75% of students complete 80% of the assignment correctly
students will analyze ethical issues facing the accounting profession	ACC 321	Method: Ethics case Metric: Proportion of students who complete 80% of the case correctly	Exceed: ≥ 90% of students earn at least 80% of the assigned points for the case Acceptable (Met): Between 75% and 89% of students earn at least 80% of the assigned points for the case Unacceptable: < 75% earn at least 80% of the assigned points for the case

Student Learning Outcome (SLO);

Course Accountable SLO

Measurement Method and Performance Metric

Performance Target

students will demonstrate an understanding of the regulatory environment

ACC 370

Method:
Internal control case

Metric:
Proportion of students who complete 80% of the assignment correctly

Exceed:
≥ 90% of students complete 80% of the assignment correctly

Acceptable (Met):
Between 75% and 89% of students complete 80% of the assignment correctly

Unacceptable:
< 75% of students complete 80% of the assignment correctly

students will analyze ethical issues facing the accounting profession

ACC 321

Method:
Ethics case

Metric:
Proportion of students who complete 80% of the case correctly

Exceed:
≥ 90% of students earn at least 80% of the assigned points for the case

Acceptable (Met):
Between 75% and 89% of students earn at least 80% of the assigned points for the case

Unacceptable:
< 75% earn at least 80% of the assigned points for the case

Student Learning Goal #5

Demonstrate competency in core accounting concepts and knowledge.

Student Successes:

Achieving an acceptable score on the exit exam

Student Learning Outcome (SLO);	Course Accountable SLO	Measurement Method and Performance Metric	Performance Target
	ACC 531	Method: Accounting Exit Exam taken by students enrolled in ACC 531 Metric: Proportion of students who achieve a score of 50% or better	Exceed: ≥ 90% of students achieve a satisfactory score Acceptable (Met): Between 75% and 89% of students achieve a satisfactory score Unacceptable: < 75% of students achieve a satisfactory score

Student Learning Outcome (SLO);

Course Accountable SLO

Measurement Method and Performance Metric

Performance Target

ACC 531

Method:
Accounting Exit Exam taken by students enrolled in ACC 531

Metric:
Proportion of students who achieve a score of 50% or better

Exceed:
≥ 90% of students achieve a satisfactory score

Acceptable (Met):
Between 75% and 89% of students achieve a satisfactory score

Unacceptable:
< 75% of students achieve a satisfactory score