SBU Accounting Alumni Establish Mentoring Program

SBU Accounting Alumni are already busy mentoring current as well as some prospective SBU accounting majors.  Jordan Deremer (2000) was able to meet SBU prospective accounting major, Kim Steinkruger, at Homecoming 2005.  Kim will start her freshman year at SBU August, 2006.

More Alumni mentors are needed.  Can you help? Email wclark@sbuniv.edu.

SBU Accounting Alumni are "going back to school" this fall by serving as mentors for current SBU Accounting majors.  The program is designed to connect Accounting majors interested in accounting/financial careers with SBU alums who remember the value and uniqueness of the "SBU experience" and who have succeeded in the "real" business world.

Over 30 SBU Accounting Alumni have agreed to participate, and their enthusiasm will help SBU Accounting majors have another edge in preparing for college and career.  Each alum will be paired with one or more students to begin a two-way dialogue.  Students will make the initial contact with their assigned mentor, and then the mentor and student are free to discuss school and career issues such as:
 

1. What is your work really like?
2. Are grades really that important?
3. Other than the textbook material, what skills do I need to enhance while I'm in college to better prepare me for my career?
4. What kinds of extra activities should I participate in at college? How did they benefit you (the mentor)?
5. What kind of study and test-taking skills did you learn while in college?
6. How do you balance family life with career demands?
7. What specific technology skills (software, hardware, tools) do I need to become familiar with to be better prepared for my   career?
8. How has SBU's Christ-centered focus helped you be a "servant leader" in your career, your family, and your church?
9. Should I accept a job offer that doesn't seem to fit my long-term career goals?
10. What are some of the big financial hurdles I need to be aware of when I leave school and start work (or start a family)?  How can I begin preparing now?
11. What would you have done differently at SBU to prepare for where you are today (work, family, social)?

 A student and his/her mentor may meet in person, or just have dialogue via email or phone.  Some mentors may be able to invite the student to visit their office and see the mentor's career first-hand.  The method and frequency of dialogue is entirely flexible for the student and mentor.

Students will be asked to take notes of their mentoring experience so they can share valuable tidbits with other students.  This mentoring experience should benefit participating and non-participating students and will also provide the Accounting Department faculty with ideas about improving SBU's Accounting program.  In addition, prospective SBU Accounting majors will see another benefit of choosing SBU for their Accounting/Financial career preparation.

 Interested alumni may join the mentoring program by contacting B. Wayne Clark, Accounting Department Chair, at wclark@sbuniv.edu or 417-328-1951.