Ernst and Young Fund for Excellence in Accounting Education 2021

It’s that time of year again — ASU matching gifts season! ASU is very important to each of us for many different reasons but these reasons probably include great memories, educational experiences and a network of wonderful relationships. Beyond it’s importance to each of us individually, ASU is also very important to EY as well, continuing to help us meet our Nextwave strategy by providing top talent to our growing firm.

Once a year we reach out to all of you and ask for your support in giving back to the school that gives us all so much. Our support is greatly needed and appreciated by the W. P. Carey School of Business, and it goes a long way in enhancing the EY brand on campus. Here’s a few highlights of our relationship with ASU this past year:

►      As of October 2021, there are 219 Sun Devil alumni working at EY.

►      Your donations last year also contributed to the funding of 14 scholarships for minority students. Your generosity has had a major impact on the lives of these students and has created a lasting legacy by supporting the leaders of tomorrow. Take a look at their gratitude in their thank you video here. 

►      The latest US News ranking show ASU as #11 among all undergraduate accounting programs in the country and #12 for graduate education in accounting.

►      The School of Accountancy recently rolled out new accounting curriculum for Graduate and Undergraduate programs in accounting. Some new courses have been developed and others have been updated, with an emphasis on the application of data analytics in accounting. Undergraduate students in accounting at ASU will all now take a course on the use of data analytics in the profession, and students in the MACC and MTax programs are getting hands-on experience with real accounting data in relevant settings and also dedicated time and support for preparation for the CPA exam. 

►      ASU operates the EY Writing Program, to help students in ASU’s Master’s programs elevate their written communication and build new strengths with writing assignments and verbal presentations. Funding for this program was provided by the Ernst and Young Fund for Excellence in Accounting Education. Jim Bosserman, a retired EY partner who teaches at ASU, uses the EY writing center resource to provide feedback on the students writings: “It is good for students to receive feedback on more than just the technical content. It is as important to the overall effectiveness of communications when writing technical content.  The EY writing center resource provides students with feedback on their communications.  The students are required to use the input from more than one person and include that feedback to improve the overall communication. This happens all of the time at EY.”

I want to personally thank those who have supported the university in the past and taken advantage of the Matching Gifts for Higher Education Program sponsored by the Ernst & Young Foundation, which doubles the impact of your gift.

I hope you will join me in supporting ASU through an increased contribution this year. Our contributions play an important part in giving EY additional brand impact on campus!

Brent Papek

ASU Campus Coordinating Partner