The Center for Accounting Education (CAE) was established in 1973 to enable and enhance the learning processes associated with the accounting curriculum, to support a strong accounting curriculum, and to strengthen relationships with the greater accounting and business community. With the expanding role of today's accountant, and the extra burden placed on the School of Business, and the Department of Accounting in particular, the focus and activities of the CAE must be expanded.

    The accounting profession, through the AICPA, federal and state legislatures, has expanded the educational requirements for accounting majors.  Recently over 45 states have passed legislation increasing the number of credit hours a candidate must complete before he/she can sit for the CPA examination.  The AICPA has also implemented the online CPA examination which creates new challenges for todays' CPA candidates. In addition, the 2002 Sarbanes-Oxley Act imposes stringent guidelines to help efficiently manage internal controls and enhance financial reporting practices for US firms.  A sound understanding of this new legislation is crucial for  future success in the accounting profession. 

    The CAE develops programs,  seminars and workshops to help students effectively deal with the emerging issues facing the accounting profession.  The CAE focuses on curriculum development and enhancement.  Courses developed and sponsored by the CAE are comprehensive in their coverage of current "hot" areas such as fraud, ethics and corporate governance, and emphasize the student's ability to critically think and identify relevant and current issues facing the profession.  The CAE helps to prepare minority students to better transition into corporate America, especially the auditing profession and ultimately becoming CPA's.   Howard University has a reputation of producing more African-American CPA's than any other university.  The CAE continues and expands this role by serving as a "boot camp" for graduates in several ways including:

·     Developing programs to prepare students for the CPA exam.  This aspect is critical given the low passing rate on the CPA exam for minorities.

·     Helping students to better understand the auditing profession and what is expected of them. 

·     The CAE sponsors an annual senior seminar with the emphasis on preparing graduating seniors before they enter corporate America.  This helps to improve the corporate retention rate by having better prepared individuals.

The CAE also collaborates with faculty to encourage and enhance research in the field of accounting.  A minimum of one research project is published annually by the CAE.  Furthermore, the CAE encourages and sponsors faculty attendance and participation at national and international seminars and forums to discuss current accounting topics and other issues.

The CAE will also provide executive development seminars and workshops for minority accounting firms.

The CAE also serves as a national resource for other HBCUs, making research and changes related to accounting education, readily available to them.  The CAE also sponsors a national HBCU accounting conference each year.