Accounting

Business Department Newsletter

Community Involvement
Salvation Army Project
The Vincennes University Accounting program strives not only to prepare students to enter the workplace, but also to teach them the importance of developing the community in which they live.  The students below spent the afternoon helping Vincennes Salvation Army paint and clean the food storage shelving and room. The food storage room houses the food donations for Knox County.  With the new shelves and clean facility, the Salvation Army can better serve food needs of the Vincennes Community.

 

Generations AngelWorx Program

The accounting program students collected and wrapped laundry baskets with toiletry and household necessities.  The baskets support the Vincennes University Generations AngelWorx program which delivers the baskets to elderly individuals in the community at Christmas time. 

Each year the Accounting programs students, freshman through seniors, come together to enjoy pizza and fellowship as they wrap the baskets. Professor Nash began participation in the project several years ago to bring the freshman class and the upper level classman together. 

The camaraderie allows the students to discuss the accounting program and build relationships between the students while also teaching the students the importance of giving back to the community. 

 

Field Trips
Each Fall semester the accounting program students visited local businesses to see accountants in action at various places of business. The field trips provide students with an opportunity to ask questions about application of the material learned in the classroom as well as see first-hand positions they will soon fill.    The students learn job duties of the various individuals within the accounting departments of the business. 

During the visit to Packaging Corporation of America, the students toured the manufacturing facility, then discussed the different processes in the plant with the Accounting personnel.  The Managerial accounting course at Vincennes University covers cost accounting concepts and processes.  The students found it interesting to see how the theories learned in the classroom were applied in the real world manufacturing setting. 

During the field trip to Vincennes University’s accounting program, the students learned about fund accounting.  Since the university is a state supported institution, governmental fund accounting principles provides the basis to record university transactions.  The importance of using budgets to manage the university’s expenses was also discussed.  The students toured the university’s Management Information Center to discuss the important relationship between the information technology department and accounting.  The staff reiterated the interdependency of the accounting and information technology departments.  The students visited the collections and billing departments to discuss collections of students accounts, cash receipts, and billing procedures.

Do You Want to Build a Skateboard?

Real Life Applications In The Classroom

Vincennes University skateboard project The skateboard project is just one example of how faculty at Vincennes University have made significant efforts to improve the classroom environment through the use of real life learning projects.  These projects help to teach the course concepts as well as improve teamwork and critical thinking skills.  One student stated, “I felt like the skateboard project was a fun way to build teamwork characteristics”. 

 

 

 

 

Community Involvement

Salvation Army Project
The Vincennes University Accounting program strives not only to prepare students to enter the workplace, but also to teach them the importance of developing the community in which they live.  The students below spent the afternoon helping Vincennes Salvation Army paint and clean the food storage shelving and room. The food storage room houses the food donations for Knox County.  With the new shelves and clean facility, the Salvation Army can better serve food needs of the Vincennes Community.

Resume Building

As an accounting major, you are offered as many real-world experiences or simulations as possible to prepare for accounting-related positions upon graduation.  You will also find several internship opportunities off campus and several of our accounting majors are hired on campus as tutors in the business lab during their second year.

Volunteer Income Tax Assistance
You can participate in the Internal Revenue Service Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program in your fourth semester.  On average, students complete 150 tax returns annually for university students and for residents of the Vincennes community.  Students complete IRS tax preparer certification exams and work under the review of Associate Professor Lisa Nash.

Awards for Excellence
This annual awards program recognizes Indiana career and technical education excellence. Wendy Franklin graduated with honors with an associate degree in Accounting in 2013.  A 1985 high school graduate, Franklin and her husband returned to college to better their lives while balancing responsibilities as legal guardians of their three young grandchildren. Although challenging, Franklin also found time to serve as a tutor in the accounting lab and as a member of Alpha Beta Gamma International Business Honor Society.  Prior to enrolling in VU, Franklin was the coordinator of the Gymnastics Dept. at the Vincennes YMCA from 1997-2010 and a youth development specialist with Southwest Regional Youth Village.  She also served as field service representative with Transition Resources in Vincennes.

Business - The Sweet Smell of Coffee

BizCafe Management Simulation

Interpertive Simulation, located in Charlottesville, Virginia, created a virtual coffee shop entitled BizCafe.  Students become managers of their own coffee café.  Students are required to create a name and logo, hire servers and managers, determine inventory and coffee usage as well as solve special “incidents” that occur throughout the simulation.  Students learn that all ® decisions affect the bottom line of the café. 

As with any business, a small business owner must wear many hats. Students are exposed to areas in marketing, operations, human resource and accounting.  Principles of Management students spend time at the coffee shop in Vincennes University's Student Union to review and discuss their BizCafe resultsEach period the financial statements are updated, an analysis of cups sold, coffee usage and expenses and cash flow is reported.  Students take this information and use it to help them decide what decisions to make in the next period.   Of course, the goal is to make a profit. The simulation can be set-up so that each student can compete against the program, or their classmates.  When students competed against each other, certain metrics are averaged or benchmarked informing the students of their standing among their peers bringing an air of competition into the classroom.

Finally, when the simulation is over, students report via presentation their experience. While some frustrations are expressed, most comments are positive as many realize for the first time what it takes to run a business.  Most Agree that it takes dedication, critical thinking, and a winning attitude to bring about a Small Business.

Business Management and Business Administration

VU houses a variety of Clubs, Organizations, Chairties, and Interships that will help you start networing in the Professional world. Be an active memeber on campus and increase your hireablilty while making new connections learning new skills.

Agribusiness

Professor Susan Brocksmith,
Program Coordinator
812-888-5718
sbrocksmith@vinu.edu