Your Complimentary Invitation to the Members Advisory Forum
Attend this important, high-profile event, the Members Advisory Forum, for free! You won’t want to miss this opportunity to network with leaders and influential CPAs in the profession on May 10, 2006 in Lansing. Get a “big picture” view of issues impacting the accounting profession from high-level speakers:

• Leslie Murphy, AICPA Chair Leslie Murphy provides you with an opportunity to voice your opinion on Peer Review Transparency. Hear the latest national perspective then share your thoughts during roundtable discussions.
• Barry Melancon, AICPA president and CEO, will highlight critical issues impacting our profession on a national level, including advocacy and outreach, audit quality and peer review and private company financial reporting.
• Suzanne Jolicoeur, licensing administrator, Michigan State Board of Accountancy, will address recently passed Michigan Accountancy Reform legislation designed to strengthen the profession and maintain the public trust as well as provide an update on the
  CPA exam.
• Stephen H. Epstein, Michigan Accountancy Foundation president, will tell you about the great success the Foundation has had in providing scholarships to fifth/graduate year students and the effects of their initiatives on future CPAs.
• John Pridnia, MACPA board member and PAC chair, will provide an update on the profound work of the Association’s Political Action Committee.
• Tom Hoisington, president of PAA Advisory, will share developments on state and federal legislative and political news.
• Peggy Dzierzawski, MACPA President & CEO, will provide an MACPA update that will feature highlights on media and image enhancement successes; student recruitment efforts and public service initiatives.

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New Laws Beef Up Integrity of the CPA, Protect Public
Michigan CPAs and business leaders collaborated on a legislative effort that culminated on December 19. Governor Jennifer Granholm signed a package of legislation that allows CPAs and individuals employed by CPAs to disclose protected information in instances of federal, state or local law violations; requires CPA firm enrollment in a peer review program to enhance the quality of accounting, auditing and attest services; and increases enforcement of unlicensed activity or “copycat CPAs.” For more details on these new laws, including additional provisions impacting the CPA profession and the public, visit MACPA’s online advocacy section.
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Hot Off the Presses: CPA Requirements Brochure from the MACPA
Do you or your students have questions about the latest requirements to become a licensed CPA? The MACPA has developed a comprehensive brochure discussing the steps it takes become licensed. From education, to examination to practical experience, this easy-to-use document guides a student through the process. Download a copy of this brochure or contact Michelle Mohan via e-mail or telephone, 248.267.3714, to order printed copies.
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Familiar with the CPA Exam Changes? Get an Inside Look
at One of the Biggest Differences
As you probably already know, the CPA Exam went computerized in April 2004 and underwent a number of revisions. The least of which is students are now seated in front of a computer when taking the exam; other updates to the exam affect the way students study for the exam. Your students have questions about these changes – do you have the answers? Visit the MACPA web site for comprehensive information about the computerized exam. Some of the changes include: newly tested content, a new testing medium called simulations and the added pressure of a countdown clock, according to an article from Becker CPA. With the exception of Business Environment & Concepts, simulations appear in all sections of the exam. Becker CPA recommends students are extremely familiar with simulations before sitting for the exam. Read the entire article from Becker CPA for more information on simulations and how to get prepared for them.
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Nominate a Colleague for Educator of the Year!
Does one of your colleagues inspire their students to pursue career in accounting? Do they encourage and entice their students with their teaching methods? If you know an accounting educator you feel is top-notch and deserving of an award, then nominate them for one! The MACPA Accounting Educator of the Year Award recognizes educators who excel in teaching accounting and promoting the CPA profession. Review the guidelines and eligibility, and then nominate your colleague!
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Advice on the Accounting Profession for Students
The MACPA is offering two new opportunities for students to learn what it will be like once they are working in the real world as CPAs. Advice from a Professional is a column featured in each issue of Student E-News, which features the story of a CPA or accounting professional, how they got where they are today, their tips and advice for up-and-coming professionals and more. Access past columns on the MACPA web site. Students are also invited to submit questions they may have about the profession, the CPA exam – anything they want to know that relates to their future profession as a CPA or accounting professional. The questions will be answered by MACPA members and published in Student E-News. If you have students interested in submitting a question, please e-mail the question to Kristen Benvenuti.
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MACPA Speakers Bureau is Excited to Speak to Your Students
The MACPA has a program in which they’ll provide a speaker to come to your class and speak to students regarding various issues in the accounting profession. The speaker can address the accounting profession in general, or address topics of a more specific nature that you may be covering in the curriculum. If you’d like a speaker to visit your class, simply fill out this Requestor Information Form (if you don’t have Microsoft Word, download the PDF version of the form) and e-mail or fax (248.267.3790) it to Kristen Benvenuti.
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Minority Conference Big Hit With College Students
Nearly 70 minority college students now know just how exciting the CPA profession can be. “The conference was very informative and encouraging. This was excellent,” said a student from Wayne State University about the first-ever Minority Accounting College Leadership Conference which was held on March 31 at Walsh College for minority students pursuing a degree in accounting. Students heard several presentations, including: Internal Revenue Service Fraud Training Program; Preparing to Pass the CPA Exam; and Step Up to Success where students heard from a panel of young minority professionals currently in the process of earning their CPA licenses and newly certified minority CPAs. The MACPA, along with the National Association of Black Accountants (NABA) and Walsh College, created the conference to show what it takes to become a CPA and why students should go that extra mile to become certified. “I learned a great deal of information that will help me in preparing to be a CPA,” said a student from Baker College.
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We’ve Met 677 of Your Future Students at High School Leaders Conference
Energy. Excitement. Learning. Accounting. That’s the MACPA’s High School Leaders Conference in a nutshell. And many of the extraordinary students who attended the conference may someday be your accounting students – 96 percent of the students who attended said they are now interested in pursuing a career in accounting. The Conference strives to make students aware of the exciting opportunities available to them in the accounting profession. Now in its fourth year, the High School Leaders Conference has grown leaps and bounds over the years and has grown from one conference to seven this year, three of which were held simultaneously at Wayne State University. Visit the MACPA web site for more information on this exciting event.
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MAF Awards 22 Students with Scholarships
The Michigan Accountancy Foundation, with your help, is able to award scholarships to students pursing degrees in accounting education. The scholarships assist students with their fifth/graduate year of accounting education. If you’d like to make a contribution to continue this fund, visit the MACPA web site.

Congratulations to the following students, who’ve been awarded with a scholarship from the Michigan Accountancy Foundation (MAF):

Fifth/Graduate Scholarship Recipients
Lisa Amador, Cleary University
Sunday Bonifas, Western Michigan University
Danielle Bradke, Central Michigan University
Bradley Cardew, Oakland University, Farwell Foundation/Wise & Wise, P.L.C. MAF Scholarship
Merisha Cunmulaj, University of Michigan -Dearborn
Andrea Dickerson, Aquinas College, Big Four Accounting Firm Scholarship
Thomas Garlock, Western Michigan University
Ali Goodhall, Saginaw Valley State University, Eleanore Kline Scholarship
Patricia Greenwald, Walsh College
Tyler Hitson, Michigan State University, Big Four Accounting Firm Scholarship
James Holms, Albion College
Christine Hoppesch, Michigan State University, Bob Bogan Scholarship
Daniel Lynch, Michigan State University
Kristina Ott, University of Michigan, Leslie Murphy Scholarship
Christen Page, Michigan State University
Jennifer Pikka, Northern Michigan University
Ashley Pruitt, Michigan State University
Danielle Reeves, Michigan Technological University
Jaime Roberts, Michigan State University, Big Four Accounting Firm Scholarship
David Topolewski, Wayne State University, Ed Dupke Scholarship
Michael Vehlewald, Michigan State University
Lynh Vu, Davenport University, Big Four Accounting Firm Scholarship
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Inform Your Students of Game from AICPA Offering Great Prizes
The case is virtual. The $2,500 reward is real. High school and college students are invited to solve the Case of the California Con. It’s a new game on the AICPA’s student web site, StartHereGoPlaces.com. Build this into your curriculum or share the link with your students.
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Teach Young Students Business Concepts
Join a team of CPAs that take over an elementary school for a day of business lessons. Encourage elementary students in kindergarten through eight grades to consider a career in business or accounting by volunteering for the MACPA Accounting Blitz program. During this exciting program you will take one day to visit various classrooms at a school and teach the students business basics with lessons prepared by Junior Achievement. Volunteers will be trained on the lessons, which feature topics and activities geared toward the different grade levels. Join the excitement and contact Michelle Mohan for more information or to volunteer today.
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