C.W. Post School of Professional Accountancy Represented at 2007 CPA Journal Forum
Annual industry event draws experts from academia and accounting

Brookville, N.Y. –You need not be an accountant to tally the number of Long Island colleges represented at the 2007 CPA Journal Forum. There was only one: C.W. Post Campus of Long Island University.

And Christie Dorsa, a 2007 graduate of C.W. Post's 150 hour accelerated B.S./M.B.A. program, represented the school proudly with a rousing presentation titled “How the 150-Hour Requirement is Affecting the Profession.” The event, held at the City University of New York at Baruch College, on November 16, 2007 drew experts from top accounting firms as well as from academia.

Dorsa’s address, the only one given by a student, focused on how the new prerequisite provides both a practical and intangible benefit. It allows students to be more prepared for their CPA exam, she explained, and it also forces them to be more analytical and creative in their problem-solving. Lively and poised in her discussion, Dorsa, who now works at Deloitte & Touche, brought down the house with her strong research and compelling arguments.

“I felt like the proud father sitting in the audience listening to Christie’s presentation,” said Charles A. Barragato, Ph.D., CPA, CFE, director of C.W. Post’s School of Professional Accountancy. “Not only were her opinions well-thought out, but her presentation was animated and full of life and enthusiasm. The only bad part was that Christie never had a chance to eat after her session because so many people wanted to come up and talk to her about it.” Dr. Barragato also participated in a panel discussion at the forum, “How Academics and Practitioners Can Work Together,” and commented on recruitment and hiring issues and how universities need to be creative in developing programs and curricula to meet the needs of students and employers.

“Preparing Future Accounting Professionals” hosted by CPA Journal and held at Baruch College, The City University of New York, focused on a divisive topic that garners strong opinions from both academics and professionals, particularly with the new 150-hour requirement about to be implemented.

The C.W. Post School of Professional Accountancy was the first autonomous school of professional accountancy established in the United States. An integral part of the College of Management’s business program, the School of Professional Accountancy offers a bachelor's and a master's degree in accountancy, a master's degree in taxation as well as a five-year accelerated B.S./M.S. in Accountancy and a B.S./M.B.A. in Accountancy. Students are placed in accounting jobs through career placement services while pursing their degree studies.

The faculty has an impressive combination of professional and academic credentials. The undergraduate and graduate programs reflect the latest topics and incorporate current technology. Undergraduate majors use laptop computers in all accounting classes beyond accounting principles. The B.S. in Accountancy follows the New York CPA educational guidelines for CPA licensure through July 31, 2009. The M.S. in Accountancy and the Accelerated B.S./M.S. in Accountancy (an integrated 153-credit program) are registered with the New York State Education Department as 150-hour CPA licensure-qualifying programs. The M.S. in Taxation includes an innovative Web-based tax research course and the latest in Web-based research tools. Lorber Hall, the home of the School of Professional Accountancy, is a self-contained learning center, complete with state-of-the-art networked classrooms and wireless network access.

Posted: February 21, 2008

Christie Dorsa addresses audience of experts from academia and accounting at the annual 2007 CPA Journal Forum.		Forum panelist Dr. Charles Barragato, director, School of Professional Accountancy explains to forum attendees how academics and accounting practitioners can work collaboratively.