The EIU Accountancy Advantage

The Accountancy Program in the Lumpkin College of Business and Applied Sciences is the first choice of Midwestern students desiring smaller classes and a relationship-driven approach to the study of accountancy.   

Top high school and community college students to choose our program for these reasons: 

1. Award winning faculty
2. Class size
3. State-of-the-art educational technology
4. Internship opportunities
5. Job placement
6. Scholarships
7. Student activities and groups
8. Scholastic environment
9. AACSB Accountancy accreditation

These pages should answer all of your questions about the Accountancy Program in School of Business at EIU.  Please contact us if any remain.

Faculty

At EIU, the Accountancy Program is supported by ten excellent full-time faculty members.  Seven faculty members hold Ph.D.s and two hold Juris Doctorates. 

Our faculty are recognized throughout the state and country for their teaching and intellectual endeavors.  For example,

• two faculty members have been recognized as Illinois CPA Society Educators of the Year.
• one faculty member holds a special chair as the “Lumpkin Distinguished Professor of Business.” 
• one faculty member has won the national Beta Alpha Psi Outstanding Faculty Advisor Award (one of only three given across the nation every year). 
• faculty members have published in a variety of top practice and academic journals and have been cited by popular business press publications including The Wall Street Journal, CBS News MarketWatch, and CNN Money. 

Class size

Our average class size is small (15-30 students), so you won’t get lost in the shuffle. 

State of the art educational technology

EIU classroom facilities are fully-equipped with the latest computerized audio-visual presentation and classroom support technology.  Student labs provide students with access to computer hardware and software necessary to compete in the marketplace. 

Internships

Most Accountancy students desiring an internship obtain one in the course of their study at EIU.  Faculty and student organizations have developed a wide network of employers (both in rural and urban communities) who hire our Accountancy interns. 

Job placement

The EIU Accountancy Program prepares students to launch into their own professional career.  Over the past six years, 90-97% of EIU Accountancy Program found jobs in their field within 6 months of graduation.  In Spring of 2006, one or more of our graduates left to work for employers including:

• Archer Daniels Midland Company
• Atteberry and Associates
• BKD, LLP
• Caterpillar, Inc.
• Clifton Gunderson LLP
• Doehring, Winders & Co. LLP
• Kemper CPA Group LLP
• KPMG
• McGladrey & Pullen, LLP
• Reznick Group
• State Farm Insurance

Scholarships

A variety of scholarships exist to support student attendance at EIU.  In addition, the Accountancy Program has internal scholarship funds to support students of high achievement.   

Student activities and groups

The Accountancy Program is home to two of the award winning student organizations (Beta Alpha Psi and the Student Accounting Society).  Every year since installation in 1997, the Theta Omega chapter of Beta Alpha Psi has earned the “superior chapter” award--the highest level of merit that can be obtained in this premiere international accounting honors organization.  Dr. Roann Kopel, one of our faculty advisors, was awarded the Beta Alpha Psi Outstanding Faculty Advisor Award in 2003, a national honor of high distinction.

Scholastic environment

Eastern Illinois University has been named one of the top Midwestern public universities in its class by U.S. News & World Report for the seventh consecutive year.  EIU ranked 10th among Midwestern public universities offering a full range of undergraduate degrees and some master’s degree programs.  EIU is the only Illinois public university listed in the top 12.  The Midwest region encompasses Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, and Wisconsin. Rankings are based on schools’ academic reputations, student selectivity, faculty resources, graduation and retention rates, financial resources, and alumni giving.

Accountancy accreditation

The Accountancy Program at EIU is one of only 168 accounting programs world-wide that have received special accreditation from the Association for the Advancement of Collegiate Schools of Business International.  To obtain accreditation, a department or School of Accountancy must demonstrate a sustained commitment to excellence in teaching and intellectual pursuit.  It is a unique honor.