Early in Fall 2009, the Office of the Provost invited the colleges and/or academic departments of Boise State to submit grant proposals for innovative curriculum designs or enhancements that would serve to increase success in student learning. It was encouraged that such proposals both address the demands of increased enrollments and at the same time align with the strategic vision of Academic Excellence, Public Engagement, Vibrant Culture, and Exceptional Research at Boise State.
A project team within the COBE Department of Accountancy, composed of Chairperson Denise English, and Accountancy faculty members Paul Bahnson and Troy Hyatt, drafted a proposal for curriculum enhancement in the form of a 1-credit co-requisite course to supplement the Intermediate Accounting I course (ACCT 304). The team submitted the proposal mid-December and received notification mid-January that their proposal had been selected to receive the award and $46,264.
The proposed co-requisite course will require students who are enrolled in Intermediate Accounting I to complete a robust, comprehensive accounting cycle project in the first five weeks of the 15-week semester; the goal is to provide “hands-on” experience with all of the procedural details involved in the accounting cycle and to improve the likelihood of students mastering such details. As a result, time spent reinforcing the basics will be freed up, allowing the intermediate accounting courses to cover more advanced topics.
A test-run involving several undergraduate students will take place during summer 2010 and will allow the department to evaluate and modify the project as needed. In fall 2010 and spring 2011, the department plans to ‘go live’ with an optional co-requisite course to further identify and address any concerns, and ensure that the program is fully ready for formal implementation beginning in fall 2011.
Based on its graduates’ track record of success in their accounting careers and in passing the CPA exam, the Accountancy program is well respected in the local business community and the department believes that this co-requisite course will help its students maintain that competitive position in the marketplace.