After twenty plus years as doctoral coordinator, I have accepted a new (short term) challenge to be interim chair of the accounting department. Recent regulatory changes have created an exciting opportunity for accounting educators as demand for accounting graduates has increased rapidly. Our student enrollment has grown substantially over the last five years, albeit short of demand. But, the future appears very bright with respect to both the size and quality of our accounting student body. Our ability to hire and retain faculty presents the most serious challenge to maintaining the high quality of our programs and meeting demand for expanded enrollments.
We now have two MS programs, a Master of Science in Accounting and a newly approved Master of Science in Taxation. We have implemented significant changes in our MS programs, adding three core courses to each program. Two courses, research fundamentals and accounting systems, have been integrated into the program; a capstone course that focuses on valuation issues, has been developed and should be offered this next academic year. These three courses have been designed to enhance students’ research, technological, communication (oral and written), and interpersonal skills.
Our strong relationship with our alumni and friends in the metroplex provides an important competitive advantage to the department to recruit both students and faculty. Your support has been essential to maintaining our national reputation. I look forward to talking with many of you at the annual awards banquet on April 26th to thank you, personally. Please feel free to contact me to share ideas or express concerns either by telephone (940 565-3097) or email (Merino@unt.edu). We look forward to working with you to ensure that UNT retains its recognized excellence in accounting education.
Barbara D. Merino
Horace Brock Professor and Interim Chair, Department of Accounting
