University of North Carolina at Greensboro
Bryan School of Business and Economics
Department of Accounting and Finance
ACC 630: Seminar in Contemporary Accounting Issues
Fall 2014 3:30-4:45
Instructor: Professor Hughen, PhD, CPA
Office: 336 Bryan
Phone: 334-5603
E-mail: lmkolbas@uncg.edu
Office hours: Mondays and Wednesdays 11:30am – 1:30pm and by appointment.
Course Objectives
1. Examine current topics relevant to CPAs and other accountants but not generally covered in other
accounting classes.
2. Conduct independent research to develop an expertise in assigned areas.
3. Develop experience speaking in front of a large group.
4. Prepare and deliver presentations in a clear, effective manner.
5. Think critically and ask questions when others present.
6. Formulate opinions related to the issues being discussed.
Course Resources
No textbook is required; all readings will be from publicly available websites or can be obtained from
the UNCG library at http://library.uncg.edu/. If a specific article is assigned, the document or a link to
the document will be posted in Blackboard.
Grading Scale:
A
93 - 100%
A- 90 - 92.99%
B+ 87 - 89.99%
B
83 - 86.99%
B- 80 - 82.99%
C+ 77 - 79.99%
C
70 - 76.99%
F
Below 70%
Final course grades
 Exams (Two midterms and one final exam, each worth 20%) 60%
 Quizzes on assigned readings (unscheduled) 15%
 Presentations (6 presentations each worth 3%) 18%
 Participation/contributions to open discussion 7%
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Attendance
This class is a seminar, therefore attendance is crucial. If a family or medical emergency occurs and you
cannot attend class, I expect you to let me know prior to our class meeting or the absence will be
considered unexcused. Absences related to work or personal issues are not excused. In the case where an
absence is excused:
 participation grades for that class are allocated to the remaining classes
 a missed presentation will be done when the student returns
 the points related to a missed quiz will be allocated to the next midterm exam
 a make-up exam will be scheduled and specific exam questions will differ from the exam given
during the scheduled time
Preparing for class
An introduction to the topic for class, the learning objectives, assigned readings and any additional
assignments are posted in Blackboard in the “Assignments” section. You should plan to spend 2-4 hours
preparing for each class meeting by doing the assigned readings, doing your own additional research to
answer any questions you have related to the assigned readings, and when applicable, preparing for your
presentation.
Participation
Because the class is a seminar and not a lecture, you are expected to participate throughout each class. In
many classes, I will present the material related to the topic but will call on students as I go along to
answer specific questions. Your ability to add to the discussion strongly depends on your familiarity
with and understanding of the topic which is directly associated with the time you spend doing the
assigned readings and supplementing it with any additional research to help answer any questions you
have based on the readings. I encourage students to ask questions at any point during the class.
Questions you have related to the topic will help facilitate our discussions and improve others’
understanding.
Participation grades will be posted to Blackboard every two weeks according to the following grading
rubric:
5: When called on, student has an appropriate response to all questions asked. Student asks questions
that show that a solid understanding and adequate research of the topic was done.
4: When called on, student has an appropriate response to most (all) of the questions asked but all (most)
questions the student asks show that a solid understanding and adequate research of the topic was done.
3: When called on, student has an appropriate response to most of the questions asked. Most questions
the student asks show that a solid understanding and adequate research of the topic was done.
2: When called on, student has an appropriate response to some of the questions asked. Some questions
the student asks show that a solid understanding and adequate research of the topic was done or no
questions were asked.
1: Student came to class but was unable to provide appropriate responses to questions asked and student
did not ask any reasonable questions in class.
0: Unexcused absence
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Presentations
Each student is assigned six short individual presentations, each worth 3% of the course grade. Each
presentation should explain the answer to an assigned question or topic in a simple, straightforward
manner. Specific assignments for each presentation are posted in Blackboard’s Assignment page.
The first objective of the presentations are to allow students to conduct independent research using both
assigned readings (when applicable) and students’ own research to supplement their understanding of
the topic being presented. The second objective is to allow students to use judgment to determine the
most important items related to an assigned topic for a presentation. The third objective is to
communicate your information to the audience. This is critical because without it, your audience will not
be able to determine what you learned or what they are supposed to take away from the presentation.
The most important thing you can do to increase presentation effectiveness is to rehearse out loud; first
by yourself and then at least one other time with a classmate or friend. Please see the document titled
“Preparing for Presentations” in Blackboard’s Course Documents page for further instructions.
The grading rubric that will be used for presentations is as follows:
Presenter:
Discusses all relevant information and shows that adequate research was done to
prepare
Minimizes details so that the main points stand out; presents information in a concise
manner and where possible, supported by data
Explains information in a conversational manner; does not read from notes or slides
Explains information in straightforward, understandable terms that are the presenter’s
own words
Speaks slowly and clearly
Uses the right amount of time to speak; enough to adequately cover information but
does not get cut off before the assigned question is answered
Points
available
20
20
20
20
10
10
Quizzes
In order to make sure that students are spending an adequate amount of time reading and understanding
the assigned articles, which is critical in a seminar, pop quizzes will be given throughout the semester.
The quizzes will consist of ten true/false questions based on the assigned reading(s) and will be given at
the beginning of class. Missed quizzes that result from a student arriving late to class cannot be made up.
If you miss a class due to an excused absence (see Attendance policies above), the weight of the quiz
will be allocated to the next exam.
Midterms and Final Exam
 Exams will be comprised of multiple-choice and short answer questions based on the assigned
readings and class discussions.
 Students are expected to take the exams as scheduled. If you have an emergency, notify me before
the exam and if approval is warranted, a make-up will be scheduled.
 Using notes or other resources or communicating with classmates during a quiz or exam is not
allowed. Any evidence of cheating constitutes a violation of UNCG’s AI policy and will be
documented as such.
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Professionalism
This class will therefore be run in a professional manner to help prepare students for the business world.
Promptness, attendance and attention are expected. Professionalism should be shown towards all
members of the course and includes listening when others are talking, not attacking anyone else’s
opinion or comments, not talking over people or monopolizing the conversation and refraining from
using your phone or computer for non-class related activities during class. Your participation grade may
be adversely affected by a lack of professionalism shown towards me or other students in or outside of
the class if the context relates to this course.
Email policy:
I welcome you to email me about attendance, scheduling a meeting, questions you may have about an
assignment, or anything else. I will try to respond within 24 hours. Please note that I teach ACC 201
immediately before our class meets and cannot check or respond to emails after 1:30pm on Mondays
and Wednesday until the next day.
When you email me, please use a formal, professional tone. Please read the Blackboard section labeled
“Effective Email Communication”.
Disputing a grade and/or addressing concerns about class
If you want to challenge a grade, please see me during office hours or schedule an appointment with me
for a different meeting time. Please be prepared with the specific reason(s) why you feel your grade is
incorrect (i.e., telling me a grade is “not fair” is not an acceptable reason).
If you feel that the way I have structured the class or if another person’s behavior in the classroom is
impeding your ability to do well in the course, I welcome you to speak to me about it in person outside
of our class meeting time. It is important for me to know if you do not perceive fairness in the classroom
so that I have the opportunity to address the situation.
However, if a student discussing grades or classroom management becomes confrontational and/or I
deem his/her behavior unprofessional, I will turn the matter over to the MSA Committee for resolution
and will account for the unprofessional behavior in the student’s participation grade.
UNCG Policies:
Students are expected to abide by the UNCG’s Academic Integrity Policy and the Student Code of
Conduct.
Student Conduct: http://studentconduct.uncg.edu/policy/code/
Academic Integrity Policy: http://academicintegrity.uncg.edu/violation/
Student Disabilities: http://ods.dept.uncg.edu/services/
Any request for special accommodations must come through the Office of Disability Services with the
appropriate paperwork.
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SCHEDULE OF CLASS TOPICS
Assignments are posted in Blackboard
DATE
Aug. 18
Aug. 20
Aug. 25
Aug. 27
Sept. 3
Sept. 8
Sept. 10
Sept. 15
Sept. 17
Sept. 22
Sept. 24
Sept. 26
Oct. 1
Oct. 6
Oct. 8
Oct. 15
Oct. 20
Oct. 22
Oct. 27
Oct. 29
Nov. 3
Nov. 5
Nov. 10
Nov. 12
Nov. 17
Nov. 19
Nov. 24
Dec. 1
Dec. 5
TOPIC
Overview of the course
IFRS – Convergence
IFRS – Convergence
IFRS vs. US GAAP – Inventory, PPE, and Contingencies
IFRS vs. US GAAP – Leases and Financial Statement Presentation
Strengths and weaknesses of convergence
The Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA)
FCPA Violations
Corporate Social Responsibility
Midterm 1 – IFRS, FCPA and CSR
PCAOB Inspection Reports
PCAOB Inspection Reports
Proposed changes to the auditor’s report
Proposed changes to the auditor’s report
Proposal to disclose participants in the audit
Concept release on auditor independence and audit firm rotation
Arguments against the proposal to disclose participants in the audit and the
concept release on auditor independence and audit firm rotation
Audit quality indicators
Midterm 2 – Issues in the Auditing Profession
Factors that led to the financial crisis and overview of the Dodd Frank Act
The SOX 404b permanent exemption and changes to audits of broker
dealers
Changes to compensation disclosures
Conflict minerals disclosures
Strengths and weaknesses of the Dodd Frank Act
The IPO process and pros and cons of being a publicly traded company
Emerging Growth Companies
Emerging Growth Companies
Crowdfunding
Crowdfunding
Strengths and weaknesses of the JOBS Act
Final exam – Regulation: Dodd-Frank Act and JOBS Act
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