The AICPA & CIMA, working in collaboration with its DEI volunteer committees, have created the following programs and resources aimed at supporting and increasing the ethnic minority student pipeline enrolling in and graduating from accounting programs, earning credentials, and helping to ensure their successful transition into the profession. Included below are the current programs, activities, and scholarships available with links to more detail:
Accounting Scholars Leadership Workshop
The AICPA & CIMA Accounting Scholars Leadership Workshop (ASLW) is an annual AICPA Foundation-sponsored event, that aims to increase the representation of people in the profession from ethnically diverse backgrounds and underrepresented populations. In addition, it focuses on encouraging and supporting students from diverse backgrounds interested in pursuing a career in accounting and finance. ASLW exposes students to myriad opportunities within the profession and helps them envision themselves prospering and potentially growing into leadership roles. Participation in the program is enriching, and the benefits of attending are far-reaching. This workshop does run concurrently with our professional Accounting Pipeline Diversity Symposium and therefore gives ASLW student participants an opportunity to network and relationship build with the professionals in attendance. See reflections from the 2022 event here.
PCPS George Willie Ethnically Diverse Student Internship & Scholarship Program
The AICPA Private Companies Practice Section (PCPS), in collaboration with the member-facing DEI team, is connecting PCPS firms with talented accounting majors from ethnically diverse backgrounds through our PCPS George Willie Ethnically Diverse Student Internship & Scholarship Program. Participating in this program requires firms to provide a student with an internship which in turn provides the student an opportunity to engage with a public accounting firm and the accounting profession as a whole. Firms serve as the entry point to practical experience and exposure which are both critical success factors in increasing ethnic diversity in the profession. Learn more insights here.
University career services and accounting partnerships
The resources, training opportunities and networking events hosted by career centers help students find work in their field after graduation. Accounting firms and organizations often work directly with career center staff to advertise open positions and arrange internship opportunities.
We hope this, “University career services and accounting partnerships - A collaboration to equip students for professional success” CPA pipeline toolkit will provide best practices that campus career service centers and accounting firms and organizations can use together to ensure that the students are well-equipped professionally. This toolkit is a step-by-step resource focused on establishing and maintaining an effective career services office that is equipped to support employers and accounting students.
AICPA Scholarship Award for Minority Accounting Students
The AICPA Scholarship for Minority Accounting Students provides competitive awards to outstanding full time undergraduate minority students at regionally accredited institutions to encourage their selection of accounting as a major, entry into the profession and u achieving the CPA designation.
AICPA Fellowship for Minority Doctoral Students
The AICPA Fellowship for Minority Doctoral Students ensures that CPAs of diverse backgrounds are visible in college and university classrooms. The program's goal is to increase the number of minority CPAs who serve as role models and mentors to young people in the academic environment. The AICPA Foundation awards annual fellowships of $12,000 to full-time minority accounting Ph.D. scholars who demonstrate significant potential to become accounting educators.
Join the AICPA
Joining the AICPA as a Student Affiliate Member is free and gives students access to tools and resources that will help them make the most of their college years. And once you graduate, the AICPA will continue to support with technical resources, training, networking opportunities and expert guidance. Register and apply here: https://www.thiswaytocpa.com/join-aicpa/.