Attendance:
Advisory Committee: Karina Parlato ( ZOOM), Chase Insogna ( ZOOM), Tony Ross (In-person)
Lisa Sretenovic (In-person)
Full-Time Faculty: Dr. Reed Peoples, Yolonda Holland (ZOOM), May Wang (ZOOM), Kimberly Cameron (In-person), Kristy McDermott (In-person), Larry Stephens (In-person), Johnny Howard (In-person), Okera Bishop (In-person), Darryl Houston (In-person), Jay Thibodeaux (In-person), Dean Lorlie Braxton (In-person)
The meeting of the ACC Accounting Advisory Committee begins with introductions from all attendees, including faculty members, advisory committee members, and staff. Department Chair Larry Stephens addresses the approval of minutes from previous meetings in November 2023 and April 2024. After allowing time for review, a motion is made first by Tony Ross, seconded, and the minutes are approved. Innovation proceeds to discuss recent personnel changes, including three adjunct faculty retirements and the hiring of 4 new adjunct instructors.
November 21, 2025; 11:00am - 1:30pm ( location TBD)
May 1, 2026; 11:00am - 1:30pm ( location TBD)
ACBSP Accreditation Meeting: late February 2026
November 21, 2025; 11:00am - 1:30pm
May 1, 2026; 11:00am - 1:30pm
ACBSP Accreditation Meeting: late February 2026
Larry discusses recent personnel changes, including three adjunct faculty retirements and the hiring of 4 new adjunct instructors.
The meeting segment covers enrollment data and trends for the accounting department. Larry presents statistics showing a steady enrollment over the past three years, with a 25% increase in Summer enrollment for business and accounting this year. The increase is mainly in transfer courses, particularly ACCT 2301 and ACCT 2302. Data that was presented showed that the increase is contributed by the Chancellor's new Pilot Program, which includes the free tuition cohort students. Larry discussed that some of the courses are maxed out for the Summer 2025 Semester. Larry mentioned that most of the courses will be offered in the Summer, and some courses are questionable. Enrollment for the Accounting transfer courses has increased when compared with Summer 2023 and Summer 2024, by almost 15%. Growth of transfer courses has occurred as a result with doing strategic scheduling. Larry explained that the schedule is constantly monitored, and sections that are at their capacity or have students on a waitlist will have another section added to accommodate students who are on waitlists. We are being thoughtful and purposeful in building a schedule based on student enrollment and student demands.
The meeting continued with a discussion about updates to the ACBSP Accreditation. Dean Braxton shared her appreciation for the help she has received from Kimberly, Reed, and Denise with the process for accreditation. She had shared that they are heavily leaning on the Department Chairs to help out with the information to get through the process. Dean Braxton discussed that the more information provided will help meet the deadlines that are set for ACBSP accreditation. Dean Braxton had informed the faculty that the deadline to have everything submitted is November, and there will be an accreditation visit at the end of February 2026. Make sure everything is in line for the ACBSP accreditation. Dr. Peoples shared that we have been accredited since 2005. ACBSP accredits small schools and community colleges, business colleges, or programs. In February, representatives from ACBSP will visit to discuss with the Advisory Committee members. A luncheon will be prepared by the Culinary Department, and advisory committee members will be invited. Individuals from ACBSP will also meet with different advisory committee members to discuss the programs offered at ACC, scheduled for the last week of February 2026. Dr. Peoples shared that Kimberly Cameron has served in so many roles and has shown recognition for the great job she has done as an Assistant Department Chair.
The accounting department is working on several initiatives to improve its programs and support local high schools for the Accounting Technician Program. The goal is to make sure that entry-level accounting programs are better aligned with what is being taught at the high school level. Johnny and Kristy have put in a lot of extra time to help put together the curriculum changes for the accounting program. Johnny provided more insight on the articulation program for high schools. Johnny spoke of the changes that have been implemented, which will vary from high school to high school. With schools like Pflugerville ISD, the high school accounting articulation program will allow students to complete a QuickBooks Level 1 certificate before graduating from high school through a combination of articulated and dual credit classes. Larry shared that the department will be working with Round Rock and Hays ISD to begin including articulated and dual credit classes for accounting. The plan is to start having dual credit classes for high school students as of Fall 2026. The department is also developing apprenticeship programs that allow students to earn while they learn, working with employers to provide on-the-job training alongside their coursework. These efforts aim to create smoother pathways for students from high school to college and into accounting careers.
In the meeting, Kristy discussed the second year of the Vita program at the campus, highlighting the positive impact of having students with prior tax experience as volunteers. Jay shared his experience with a challenging client and the overall positive atmosphere. Lisa also mentioned her involvement with Texas Accountants and Lawyers for the Arts, which helps individuals with low income. Kristy mentioned that the sponsor for VITA had told her that she can tell the difference between the 2 students who volunteered for the event, because they have taken tax classes. Kristy shared that Foundation Communities is a great Program. Kristy spoke of the VITA Program, which students can include on their resumes. The event allowed them to work for 19 hours a week, and the students' level of professionalism improved.
The committee discusses the internship and apprenticeship programs at ACC. Kristy explains that they are reaching out to employers to become apprenticeship partners, with an upcoming presentation on May 13th. Kristy shared that Accounting has their first student in the professional accounting program working towards CPA exam eligibility. Kristy explained to the committee that the focus is to get more Apprenticeships in the Summer and Fall, while the department still has $2000 of tuition and help as many students. Johnny also discusses curriculum changes, including a new career success class in accounting that will be offered for the Fall 2025 Semester, and shared the information that students will have the opportunity to learn. Karina inquires about the process for employers to connect with ACC for internships, and Johnny explains the agreement process and how employers can get involved. The discussion concludes with Karina expressing interest in connecting with the internship program to address high turnover rates in finance departments, particularly for staff accountant positions. In the meeting, Karina and the other committee members discussed the challenges of retaining people and the potential benefits of internships and apprenticeships. They considered reaching out to high schools to promote the accounting industry and possibly offer dual credit classes. Johnny suggested partnering with the committee to promote the industry to high school students. The team also discussed the challenges of engaging corporate America in the program and the potential for small businesses to provide opportunities for students. Larry mentioned that any follow-up questions should be emailed to him, Johnny, or Kristy. Larry discussed with the faculty and committee that Internships and Apprenticeships are needed for students, because some students who do not have prior experience in Accounting need accounting experience to help them look for jobs.
Larry discussed the upcoming American Accounting Association Foundation's 2-Year Bridge Symposium, which aims to support community college students transitioning to a 4-year university. The program has grown significantly, with 32 offices across the US participating this year. The team also recognized faculty service and the efforts of faculty ambassadors. Larry shared that the program will have an event on November 14, 2025, and their goal is to help 600 or more students join the program. Karina wanted to know what the metrics of the AAA Foundation were for students, and Larry explained that the requirements for students to join the program include being enrolled in an Intro to Financial Accounting course. Students will need to continue their studies at their community college with the intent to transfer, and the student will need to have a minimum GPA of 2.0. Larry mentioned that there is no requirement for the student to have completed 30 hours. He concluded that the AAA Foundation reduces a lot of barriers, and students will be able to get engaged in knowing more about the Program.
Larry discussed with the committee and faculty that he wanted to have a brief discussion about the use of A.I in an evolving workplace and wanted to know if A.I is being used, what type of tools, and what skills do they want students to walk out of their educational experience with to be able to contribute. The group discusses the impact of A.I on the accounting profession and education. They highlight the need for students to learn how to use A.I use tools effectively, including Excel Co-Pilot and other Microsoft 365 features. Lisa shared her thoughts about using A.I, and sometimes it can guide in the wrong direction. She mentioned that with A.I, the importance of A.I is to understand the conversation to have while using A.I to go in the right direction, and also questioning A.I about why it came up with the answer. The group emphasizes that while A.I will change accounting work; it won't replace accountants but rather enhance their roles by automating mundane tasks and allowing more focus on analysis and advisory services. They also discuss the importance of teaching students how to communicate with A.I, evaluate its outputs, and use it responsibly, considering security concerns. Okera, Darryl, and May provided feedback about the effectiveness of using A.I for their courses. The committee and faculty agreed that it is important to embrace A.I. Lisa explained to the group that it’s important to have the education and understand when A.I is not giving the right classification. She says it’s better to communicate with A.I until it starts to learn better. Larry concluded that the question that needs to be answered is whether A.I should be used or not? He included that A.I is just not being used in the classrooms, and it’s being used in the school’s policy as a whole