Professor Elam

Friday Dec 14 2012

As we end the Fall Semester, let's take a look at where I envision us going next semester. I write this post in the hope of getting feed back here from you the students, it is your accounting program after all. So, 

1. I have suggested that students acquire a copiess of Schaums Intermediate Accounting I and II in the past, now I am going to make it mandatory. These are a necessary part of any student's accounting library. Concise, to the point, and filled with 400 solved problems, always handy for practice. 

2. We will begin Intermediate  3311 and 3312 with a study of derivatives. 

http://www.cmegroup.com/files/intro_fut_opt.pdf

If you will be in 3311 or 3312 please print and put this in a handy three ring binder, then read it over the holiday break!

Also plan to subscribe to the Wall Street Journal. You can do this at reduced student rates, I will be posting the link to subscribe. Accounting and finance are giant complex subjects. You need more contextual understanding and background to grasp how we account for complex transactions. Reading the WSJ and this blog will help if you will onlhy do just that. It is a mere 30 bucks for 15 weeks, a semester, that is only $2  a week, about the price of an ordinary coffee at Starbucks

https://buy.wsj.com/shopandbuy/order/subscribe.jsp?pId=27900076

 

or google student subscription to WSJ

3. The grades improved when I assigned a long quiz and then went over that before the exam. In addition we will be assigning more overall problems such as constructing complete financial statements. Electronic homework does not do this, I think all this technology results in a more of a fill in the blank mentality than a holistic approach to accounting. 

4. We will also be learning more about Excel. Your Cengage text for the next semester will include the Cengage text on excel. 

5.  I am hoping to bring speakers to campus on alternating Thursdays at noon. We will have a 2 PM  3311 class so that should allow those in that class to attend this gathering. We had a great response to the SA CPA night with our guest speakers. This will make the accounting community in San Antonio more aware of us and increase our networking potential. At the moment I have Bruce Howard scheduled to speak on non verbal communication at noon January 24 but taht depends on the 2 PM ACCT 3311 class gaining some enrollment. 

6.  I am hoping we will complete a student study area where the existing computer lab is located. Another project will be putting practice exams using the Gleim software on the computers. I will be incorporating these exams in all my classes and will urge the other professors to do so. These can be taken online and are a great way to review class room material and prepare for eventually taking certified exams. 

7. We have the Gleim review texts for CIA CMA and CPA. I want to find a way to make them available in that area but I don't want any one walking off with them. we will need some sort of secutiry. 

8. We have hired an accounting tutor, Joe Dupuy. I will be working with Joe to implement successful review strategies. Joe has begun his own blog at 

http://lemonadestandaccounting.wordpress.com/2013/01/07/introduction-to-lemonade-stand-accounting/

Joe's e mail is joedupuy@hotmail.com

9. Accumulate an accounting library on the cheap. Publishers produce new textbooks every couple of years. Many are not improvements, but different for different sake. For example in my opinion the best cost book is the 11e version of Garrison Managerial Accounting. As it is an older book one can buy it for 99 cents plus shipping from amazon. This is true of most books that are a couple of editions old. It is really only  the tax books that become obsolete due to continued changes in tax law. 

So, let me know your thoughts, our program continues to have inceasing enrollment. 

or as TSCPA puts it

Accounting, offering 360 degrees of possibility

 

Let me know what you think, we are open to constructive ideas.