The Bea Sanders/AICPA Innovation in Teaching Award recognizes and disseminates successful practices in the first course sequence in accounting that pique students' interest in accounting and pursuing the CPA profession as a career. The award recognizes changes in a content segment or a subset of skills rather than a programmatic or curricular change.

A selection committee comprised of AAA and AICPA members selects winners from the pool of accepted submissions to the American Accounting Association's Effective Learning Strategies Forum. The award is presented at the AAA Annual Meeting.

The criteria for selection includes the ability to pique students' interest in an accounting career; adaptability for other educational institutions or situations; and ability to enhance student learning and to help students learn on their own. The winner may be an individual or a group of individuals.

For more information, please contact the AICPA Academic & Career Development team at educat@aicpa.org.

Past Award Recipients

2007   Philip A. Brown and Bob Churchman, Harding University

            Attracting the Best and Brightest to Accounting: Establishing an Honors Accounting Principles Class

Honorable Mentions

Teaching Financial Literacy in Introductory Accounting Courses

Donna Dietz, North Dakota State University and Athar Murtuza, Seton Hall University

Beyond Debits and Credits

Sharon C. Gibbs and Michelle B. Hagadorn, Roanoke College

Arctic Blast: A Case Using Writing, Decision Making and Teamwork in a First Accounting Class

Keith E. Harrison, Truman State University

Testing Critical Thinking Skills in Accounting Principles

Lee Warren and Marilyn Young, Belmont University

Making-It in Managerial Accounting

Priscilla Wightman, Hartwick College

2006   Richard H. Fern, Eastern Kentucky University

Getting Started in the Thoroughbred Horse Business: A Review of Some Basic Accounting Principles

Honorable Mentions

Business From The Idea To The Seasoned Offering: Accounting and Financial Statements Reflecting Business Activities

Stephen P. Moehrle and Pamela S. Stuerke,  University of Missouri – St. Louis

“Let’s Go to the Movies”: Using Movies as an Ethics Assignment

Roselyn Morris, Texas State University-San Marcos