June 14, 2005 – Shirley Luna

Accounting group named 'Organization of the Year'

The Stephen F. Austin State University group that provides free income tax preparation assistance to Nacogdoches residents each year recently was named SFA Organization of the Year.

The Epsilon Mu chapter of Beta Alpha Psi was recognized as the Organization of the Year by the SFA Office of Student Affairs.  The chapter is part of the international honorary financial information organization promoting the study and practice of accounting, finance and information systems; providing opportunities for self-development; and encouraging a sense of ethical, social and public responsibilities.

The chapter currently consists of 35 undergraduate and graduate students. Eligible members must have a grade point average of at least 3.0 and are eligible to join the chapter after taking one upper-level major course, but also must have at least two semesters remaining before graduation.

The chapter has earned 825 hours of professional service this academic year, according to Dr. Treba Marsh, chair of the Department of Accounting at SFA and Beta Alpha Psi adviser.

"These hours prepare our members for their careers by developing and improving their technical knowledge and proficiencies," Marsh said.

Marsh said the chapter displayed excellence in leadership at the 2005 Beta Alpha Psi Southwest Regional Conference in New Orleans. Six members participated in presentations titled “Ethics and Integrity,” “Innovative Professional Activities” and “Web Page Building.” The “Ethics and Integrity” presentation was a professional competition among other schools in the region. The Epsilon Mu chapter won first place and will compete against chapters from around the nation in August at the 2005 Beta Alpha Psi annual conference in San Francisco.

“Ethics and Integrity” was developed and presented to two SFA classes and two local high school classes to emphasize the importance of ethics. The program recommended an ethical decision-making process which students could use when faced with dilemmas.

The “Innovative Professional Activities” presentation emphasized the necessity of proper business etiquette skills in the areas of formal dining and professional dress to make a favorable impression. The “Web Page Building” presentation stressed the simplicity of building a Web page by focusing on knowing the purpose, audience, navigation and content of the page.

In addition to helping community members prepare their tax returns as part of the Internal Revenue Service Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program, the chapter participates in the Adopt-A-Highway campaign twice a semester, and once each semester, members play bingo with residents of a local assisted-living home.

"The character of this chapter is definitely one of superior status," Marsh said. "The national office of Beta Alpha Psi continually demonstrates that belief by awarding our chapter the highest recognition possible, 'Superior Chapter' status, for the majority of the 26 years we have been active. The Epsilon Mu chapter has, once again, met and exceeded all the requirements of the national office to receive superior recognition."