Students at the Career Opportunities in the Accounting Profession (COAP) program at Adelphi University.


This year, at five college campuses throughout New York state during the last week in June, high school students of color attended multiday immersion programs introducing them to accounting, courtesy of the NYSSCPA’s Career Opportunities in the Accounting Profession (COAP) program. Established more than 30 years ago, COAP teaches students that an accounting background can lead to a host of business careers.

The Moynihan Scholarship Fund raises money for the COAP program—along with the Excellence in Accounting Scholarships—through donations, ticket sales and sponsorships at the Moynihan Scholarship Fund Gala each May and through other fundraising initiatives. At this year’s Gala on May 24, NYSSCPA Past President J. Michael Kirkland, who serves as the Moynihan Scholarship Fund fundraising chair, praised COAP for the important role it plays in increasing diversity within the profession.

This year’s locations were: COAP Adelphi University, on the Garden City campus; COAP Mid Hudson at the State University of New York (SUNY) at New Paltz; COAP Rochester Institute of Technology; COAP Syracuse at SUNY Oswego; and COAP Westchester Community College.

As part of the COAP programs, students took field trips to accounting firms and conversed with CPAs at their offices. They also attended talks presented by CPAs in industry, education and government. The students learned basic accounting concepts, along with overviews of cost accounting, forensic accounting and technology in business and accounting. The COAP programs also taught the students softer skills to help them get ahead in the business world. Classes covered dressing for success, interviewing skills, résumé writing, public speaking and networking. In addition, the programs featured team-building exercises and general discussions of career opportunities.

The students approached the program with great enthusiasm, and several reported that they were seriously considering careers in accounting. Olga Wanliss, who attended the COAP program in Rochester, said, “I learned that accounting can be really fun and interesting!” She said her favorite event was visiting an accounting firm: “It gives you really great insight if you ask the right questions.” When asked if the program helped her to decide what choose as a career, she responded, “It definitely did help me decide! I want to be an accountant now; I’m looking into lots of programs at all the SUNY schools for the perfect program for me!”

For more information about the COAP programs, visit this page.

rsingleton@nysscpa.org