COAP Helps Further Profession's Diversity

By Sanjay Paranandi

Close to 100 new students joined alumni ranks of the Career Opportunities in the Accounting Profession (COAP) program after completing the 12th annual residency at Pace University's Pleasantville campus and the second Long Island residency at Hofstra University, both held in June. The Pace program graduated 56 minority students, up from 43 in 1997, and the Hofstra program graduated 42, up from 30 its first year.

The programs ran simultaneously, targeting minority high school juniors from Long Island and the New York metropolitan area. COAP introduces high school juniors to the benefits of an accounting career, with the goal of adding diversity to the profession.

Throughout the intensive five-day program, students attended classes on financial statement analysis, computers, goal setting, resume writing, verbal presentation skills, and other business and personal development topics. Faculty includes CPAs and other business professionals who served as important role models to the students.

"The maturity gained by COAP participants through their interactions with senior-level business managers during the residency is invaluable as they face difficult college and career choices," said C. Daniel Stubbs, a COAP Advisory Board and faculty member. "The network of participants and presenters clearly transcends the residency period, bringing benefits that last a lifetime."

For hands-on exposure to the business world, attendees at both programs had the opportunity to visit CPA firms, including PriceWaterhouseCoopers LLP, KPMG Peat Marwick LLP, Ernst & Young LLP, Margolin Winer & Evens LLP, and Bernhardt Karlitz Hayden & DeCruze LLP; companies including Pepsico and Computer Associates; and government offices such as the

IRS Service Center in Brookhaven, Federal Reserve, and New York Stock Exchange.

"I really appreciate the opportunity to be in a program like this," said Melissa James, a participant in the Pace residency. "I now have such a clear understanding as to what I want to do in the future due to the abundance of information COAP provided me."

In addition to Society funding, COAP receives private and corporate donations and is overseen by an advisory board made up of accounting and business professionals. The NYSSCPA thanks the COAP Advisory Board, instructors, and the contributors who made the 1998 programs a success.

"COAP allows business professionals to actively participate in the nurturing and development of tomorrow's business leaders," said Anthony Kendall, an advisory board and faculty member. "The program is an invaluable experience not only for participants but for the presenters as well."

Kendall's firm, Mitchell & Titus LLP, has donated to the program since its inception and also supports COAP by providing faculty and other resources.