GRAD COUNCIL MINUTES
April 30, 2014
Attendees: Joe Hornak, Carla Williams, Carol De Filippo, Marla Schweppe, Hector Flores, Christine
Licata, John McCluskey, Chris Licata, Jim Perkins, Deanna Jacobs, Tom Trabold, Linda Underhill, Don
Wilson, Ferat Sahin
Joe Hornak introduces Bill Dresnick, Department Head of Accounting from the Saunders College of
Business, who will present a semester conversion proposal for the MS in Accounting.
Agenda
 Timing of proposal: Dresnik gives background information, explains why this was not done
during semester conversion.
 Prerequisites: Assumes bachelor’s degree in accounting; not expected to be massive program.
Outlines courses assumed to have completed
 Curricular summary: 31 semester hours; required credits 22; elective credits 9. Discusses
electives in more detail. 1 credit class is “Accounting Profession”—transition from school to
professional practice
Discusses 7 more advanced courses among the required courses
 NYS CPA program requirements: 33 semester-equivalent hours of accounting; NYS required 150
minimum hours of accounting courses for Master’s degree (typically 21-24 done an undergrad
level). Focuses on minimum requirements. ACCT795 addresses ethics.
 Target audience: students getting bachelor’s in accounting; want to keep our own but also
attract other students for 1-year degree. MBA designed to be a 2-year program (5 semesters).
Takes few additional resources to offer both. Can accommodate about 25 additional grad
students. 15-20 is reasonable, doable. Great demand for the students.
Would like university to put money into marketing this.
Shows college mission statement.
Questions:
1. Is CPA the ultimate in the accounting field? Some see it that way; would say it is (biased). Can
students get with undergrad? No; minimum 150 credit hours. Would you market that it’s easy to
get it here? Absolutely. Gives lengthy comparison to other regional programs.
2. Do you have your table 1b? Looks like you have to really work to get this completed in a year.
What would happen if a student couldn’t or didn’t? The student would take 3 semesters. Are
they offered each term? No, but if the demand is there we will. Asks question about prerequisite
for one course description; needs to update language to include “or equivalent.”
3. Joe: Can you bring up Table 2? Keeps coming up with 29 credit hours instead of 32. Mistake
regarding Field exam credits. (Some general discussion among attendees seeking information
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within paperwork to confirm credit hours. Confusion regarding quarters/semester credit hours.)
Advanced Accounting got omitted; makes 32. Delete Field Exam 1 credit=31!
There is a market for this degree? You have MBA accounting? Area colleges are having trouble
keeping up their programs—now we are creating one—can you clarify? Those other schools are
not recruiting outside the region (cites international locations, eg. Beijing) Nationally enrollment
is going up. Why would I choose MS accounting? Depends on the firm. There’s variation.
Chris: Table 2—difficult to know whether courses indicated as new—about 50%--is this changing
the focus of the former MS in accounting significantly? If so, this is more than calendar
conversion. Help us understand. What is the impact of the new course on the program? I don’t
have that history; no one here has been her that long. Seemed like MBA lite—more statistics,
economics, not leading toward CPA exam. The 150 hours kicked in 5 years ago—2009. We need
to check substantive change because it is more than 1/3 change. And we need to give more
explanation before sending to state. An easy fix. Send through as type 2 calendar conversion
change. Need to make sure we give rationale. Happy and easy to do. Also need for all the new
courses designated as such we should attach course outlines.
Carol: The copy I received of learning outcomes seemed to have been a draft; incomplete.
Revised version sent to Joe, cc’d Chris. Has all been corrected.
Marla: You don’t need new faculty? An adjunct here and there—no full-time lines. Talking larger
classes? Yes. Don’t think you want it.
Hector: Has to go to senate? Should address the issue of faculty. One or two scenarios.
Joe: agrees with Hector re: Academic Senate.
Chris: You have incremental resources in proposal; right now it says none. Is it none or some?
None at the moment. I would like marketing money. We don’t need additional resources to run
this program—the courses are already offered. Incremental resources outside of the college?
Haven’t thought about it; would be thrilled. Don’t have to fill out if you have the resources in
your college to handle contingency
Where do your BS accounting students go when they leave here? Quite a few stat; they go to
Rutgers, Indiana, etc. Only 1 or 2 states in US don’t require. You could get high enrollment.
Would love it.
Hector: Suggestion: Is it possible to actually indicate enrollment by numbers whether or not
additional resources would be necessary?
Joe asks for additional questions; asks Bill to excuse himself at 10:54AM. Can we vote in 5 minutes? ???
says she is in full support. Joe summarizes suggestions made.
Jim Perkins asks question about graduate course prerequisites—should take out because they’re really
undergraduate.
Joe announces some part of the agenda for next week. Meeting concludes at 10:58AM.