Aronson & Company, a nationally ranked top 50 accounting and consulting firm, recently announced that they will participate as a co-sponsor of a new program called “Accounting Doctoral Scholars.” This initiative is the first ever created with the single goal of boosting the number of Ph.D.s in accounting faculty positions.
Aronson & Company is one of several accounting firms and participating state CPA societies that have already committed a total of nearly $15 million for Accounting Doctoral Scholars. The program will be administered by the AICPA Foundation.
In addition to contributing funds, Aronson & Company is committed to recruiting candidates to apply to the Accounting Doctoral Scholars program and to pursue careers in our nation’s top colleges and universities.
Remarked Lisa J. Cines, CPA, Aronson & Company’s Managing Officer, “We are proud to be involved with the Accounting Doctoral Scholars program. The need for accounting Ph.D.s is growing at an alarming rate and accounting professionals must come together to address these critical issues facing our profession.”
Accounting Doctoral Scholars is launching at a critical time in the accounting profession. While student enrollment in college accounting programs is the highest it has been in over 35 years and there is a huge demand for accounting graduates, the graduation of accounting Ph.D.s has declined by roughly 50 percent over the past decade. As a result, there is a critical shortage in auditing and tax specialties.
In addition, the average age of the current accounting faculty members at U.S. Colleges is 55, which foreshadows a serious crisis in the near future. Strong doctoral faculties are essential for advancing the body of professional knowledge and to prepare talented, skilled accountants to meet future needs.
Ensuring a robust supply of accounting faculty is a recommendation of the Human Capital Subcommittee of the Treasury’s Advisory Committee on the Auditing Profession. The subcommittee endorsed increasing the numbers of accounting faculty through public and private funding.
The Accounting Doctoral Scholars program will provide funding for up to 30 individuals each year for four years. Applicants must have recent and proven performance in audit or tax in a public accounting firm. Program candidates must be committed to a career as an accounting faculty member in audit or tax at a U.S. university accredited by AACSB International. Accounting Doctoral Scholars will receive assistance with selecting and applying to the right PhD program for them. Once enrolled, the Ph.D. candidates will receive $30,000 a years for up to four years.
Applications for the Accounting Doctoral Scholars program will be accepted beginning on September 9, with the first class scheduled to enroll in the fall of 2009.
For further information, please contact:
Accounting Doctoral Scholars Program
American Institute of CPAs Foundation
220 Leigh Farm Road
Durham, North Carolina 27707
E-mail: adsprogram@aicpa.org
Telephone: 919-402-4524
Website: www.adsphd.org