September 1999

Whatever Happened to the One-on-One Program?

By Robert W. Kawa, CPA

Viewpoint

As an active NYSSCPA member and an educator for over 20 years, I have taken great interest in the Society's development of young professionals. Which is why, when I heard Lou Grumet's speech about bringing the profession's knowledge to high school students in order to spur careers in accounting, I was both pleased and puzzled.

Beginning recruitment at the high school level is an absolute necessity if the profession is to, as it proclaims, "attract the best and the brightest" students. Supplying information to aid in career decisions can only help quality students become attracted to careers in accounting. Lou has made this a high priority in his duties as NYSSCPA Executive Director and rightly so.

I am a bit perplexed though. Wasn't it not all that long ago that the Society had a very active One-on-One program whose purpose was to do exactly that--spend time at area high schools informing students about our profession? (Somewhere, I think that Stu Kessler is smiling.)

I am not sure about other chapters, but I know my Syracuse Chapter made strong attempts annually to contact guidance counselors and business program heads at local high schools to speak at career days and in classrooms about careers in accounting. We received help from the Society--I remember playing a videotape and passing out literature that came from NYSSCPA offices in New York.

Lou's plea to reach young people made me think: Are we doing enough at the chapter level to inform high school students of our wonderful profession? Is the Society as a whole doing enough?

It has to be clear that our profession's future lies in our ability to attract dynamic, intelligent young people to our ever-changing world of accounting. It seems to me that our One-on-One program once attempted to do just that.

My call would then be to chapter leaders and educators in the profession. Get involved! If your chapter once had a One-on-One Committee that became dormant, start it in motion again. Contact high school business departments and guidance offices; you will find most of them receptive to your call. Volunteer to speak to young people about careers in accounting.

If your chapter has not been active in the recruitment of young people to the profession, contact Lou's office. Society staff members are more than willing to get the ball rolling.

My own involvement with the One-on-One program was one of the most rewarding experiences of my professional career. It is a thrilling personal achievement to see people I spoke to when they were in high school (no doubt among those "best and brightest") become important members of our profession. I hope many others can experience it. *

Robert W. Kawa, CPA, assistant professor at LeMoyne College, is a past president of NYSSCPA Syracuse Chapter and former chair of its One-on-One program. He currently serves on the Society's Professional Ethics and Scholarship committees.