March, 2011
Dr. Michael Tidwell, Dean
www.bloomu.edu/cob
(570) 389-4745
Professional Association Prepares Students for Fraud Examination
In an increasingly technology-dependent society, the chance of fraud and
fraud-related crimes is becoming a
legitimate threat. The Student Association for Fraud Examination (SAFE)
is preparing students from all backgrounds to recognize and solve these
real life problems, while helping them
gain experience and knowledge.
The Bloomsburg University chapter
of SAFE was the first student chapter
to be established and recognized by
the Association of Certified Fraud
Examiners. Accounting professor
Michael Shapeero set up SAFE, which
currently has over 70 members.
The chapter brings in 3-4 speakers
each semester to discuss fraud examination techniques and practices.
“We’ve brought in FBI agents,
professional law enforcement officers
and special agents to speak to us,”
says Megan Miller, a senior accounting
has organized is a trip to the Internal
Controls Office of the Mohegan Sun
Casino in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania.
The trip, set up by Miller, is intended
to give students a chance to observe
how casino personnel try to prevent
fraudulent activity and the steps that
occur if a situation does arise.
One of the other reasons students
join the club is to build their resumes
for recruiters and prospective employers. The group has developed a
Gold and Maroon membership policy
which, according to Miller, was enacted to show who is really dedicated
to the organization. A designation as
Ms. Megan Miller
Gold Member on a resume indicates
major and SAFE president. “They usu- members have attended the required
ally discuss the process, or how they number of speeches and meetings.
“The credentials and what you can
deal with and detect fraud, and pass
on their knowledge and techniques to learn from participating is more than
a great resume booster,” says Gary
us.”
One of the new activities the club Stewart Jr., SAFE’s vice president of
Financial Management Association Achieves
“Superior Chapter” Designation
Clubs and organizations are vital parts
of college students’ preparations for
post-graduation success. BU’s chapter
of the Financial Management Association (FMA) is showing future bankers
and financial advisers what it takes
to make it in a competitive business
environment. By scheduling guest
speakers, participating in conferences
and perfecting interviewing skills, the
association is motivating members to
get involved and providing ample networking opportunities before students
graduate.
Involvement in FMA is for students
who have an interest in corporate
finance, investments, banking, insurance and related fields. The goal is to
not only build a strong resume, but
provide members with opportunities
to better understand current business
ideology and promote career development.
Due to dedication and the drive to
remain competitive, the BU chapter of
FMA has achieved “superior chapter”
status.
According to Lee Herbert, president of BU’s FMA chapter, a chapter
must meet an impressive amount
of requirements in order to reach a
superior ranking, such as bringing in
at least eight guest speakers per year
and taking tours of financial establishments, such as the New York Stock
Exchange, which the chapter visits
every year.
“The amount of work we put in is
what makes us competitive. It really
allows students to get engaged and
put something official on their resumes,” says Herbert.
Some of the group’s most important activities are the resume and
interviewing workshops.
“We got in contact with Vanguard,
the world’s second-largest mutual
fund company, because we have a lot
of BU alumni there. They do interview
and resume workshops with us,” explains Herbert. “Their process is very
intense so if you can interview with
them you can interview with almost
anybody.”
FMA recently established an internship relationship with a local business
incubator, the Greater Susquehanna
Networking Seminar Presents Opportunities for
Students and Executives to Interact
The Bloomsburg University College
of Business stands by the philosophy
that success goes beyond the classroom and students must interact with
business professionals to reach their
full potential. On Thursday, March 31,
at Monty’s, the college will host a Student Networking Seminar, an opportunity for students to begin making
connections with business executives
in a fun and informal setting.
“It’s an event designed to get
students familiar with the importance
of being in contact with the alumni
and corporations that we regularly interact with,” explains Michael
Tidwell, dean of the College of Business. “It will give students a deeper
level of business knowledge that’s not
covered in the classroom. It’s about
more than just knowing the 5 P’s of
marketing, or how to read a financial
statement.”
FMA
cont. from pg. 1
Keystone Innovation Zone, which
helps small businesses become established. It has also sponsored fundraisers, but the majority of the group’s
aid comes from the university and the
College of Business.
“The College of Business helps
us with financial aid but, more importantly, they help facilitate the
relationships that you build with the
professors in your major,” says Herbert. “That’s really essential because
professors will help you with so much,
whether it’s getting a job or helping
you on a paper. They supply us with all
the fundamental resources we need,
and it’s always great to know they’re
there to help.”
The impetus for the event was the
lack of student-alumni interaction.
With the thousands of BU alumni
willing to help students at their alma
mater, Tidwell saw an important,
untapped resource that would benefit
students immensely.
“A lot of students leave with a
tremendous network of friends and
alums that they never reconnect
with after graduating,” says Tidwell.
“It’s almost like having a gift that you
received on your birthday and never
opened.”
The student-centered event is another piece of the college’s blueprint
for a comprehensive business education that aims to prepare students for
post-graduation success.
“This event is focused on the students, but it’s also an opportunity to
bring the alumni back to show them
the good work going on with the fac-
Dr. Michael Tidwell
ulty and administration, and how the
students are growing and developing
from all of it,” said Tidwell. “This event
will give us a great point of reference
for similar events in the future.”
SAFE
cont. from pg. 1
Mr. Sam Antar
meetings and a senior accounting
major in the fraud examination concentration. “It’s a great way to start
networking because you’re meeting
all kinds of people all the time. Having
it on your resume is definitely a plus,
because some recruiters, especially
those who were involved with SAFE,
will see that and it may lead to you
getting a job.”
The College of Business is helping
SAFE sponsor a presentation by white
collar crime specialist Sam Antar, who
will speak at BU later this semester
about his criminal past and how his
“takes one to know one” philosophy
helps him spot criminals committing
the types of crimes he was convicted
of committing.
“We wouldn’t have been able to
afford such a prestigious speaker if it
weren’t for the College of Business.
They put in a lot of work and effort
to help us out, even beyond financial
assistance,” says Stewart.