AIM 3192: PROFESSIONAL COMMUNICATION II

SPRING 2006

Instructor: Matt Polze E-mail: ezlop99@hotmail.com

Office: SM 4.233 Office hours: By Appointment

Class Time: Wednesday 6:00 - 7:00

I. COURSE OVERVIEW

Professional accountants are the information managers of the 21st century. In order to meet the demands of this
strategic business position, professional accountants must be able to effectively communicate to their clients, their
employers, and to the public. The purpose of this course is to teach the future information managers, accountants,
how to obtain and communicate information. Information managers must be able to identify their clients’ needs and
meet those needs in a timely manner. You will have the opportunity to develop the oral and written communication
skills that are required in a client-service environment.

II. COURSE MATERIALS

♦ Effective Writing: A Handbook for Accountants 7th Edition by Claire and Gordon May

III. COURSE EVALUATION

There are two parts to the evaluation.

1. Class Participation: This course is a combination of discussions, lectures, and guest speakers. Class
participation is expected. In order to maximize your benefits in this course, you must attend class.
Attendance will be taken in every session, and you must dress in business casual attire for guest speaker
sessions. You are allowed ONE absence. More than one absence may result in a reduction of one
letter for the final grade.
2. Mentor Memo Assignment
Due: 4/5/2006

a) Choose a member of the professional community that you would like to be your mentor. It can be a
professional that you’ve met in recruiting or perhaps in your work experiences. It should be someone
whose professional career path you would like to emulate.
b) Perform an interview of your mentor. The questions you ask are up to you, but can include: a) Tell me
about your career path, b) What would you recommend to a student like me to get to where you are, c)
What skills do you think are most important in your position, d) What skills do you think that a student like
me should focus on in my academic career. Again, you should make up your own questions to learn more
about your mentor.
c) Write a two-page memo to your instructor, using correct memo format, describing your experience with
your mentor. You must also provide contact information for your mentor.

The weights for evaluation are:

Class Participation 70%
Mentor Memo 30%
NOTE: Please consult the course schedule and catalogue for information on withdrawals, incompletes, and academic honesty. Academi
dishonesty, including cheating, plagiarism, collusion, and falsifying academic records, among other things, will not be tolerated.
Course Outline for AIM 3192 Spring 2006
DATE DISCUSSION NOTES
• Introduction to the Course
1/11 • Information about the CPA Exam - Professor Amy
Troutman
• Beta Alpha Psi Presentation
1/18 • Job Fair Skills and Tips
• Guest speaker- Heather Huntley

1/25 • No Class Today!

• Chapter 10- Memo and
2/1 E-mail Writing in a Professional Setting
• Mentor Memo discussion
• Future of the CPA Profession
2/8 • Professional Designations
• No Class Today!
2/15
• Guest Speaker, TBA • Business Casual Attire!
2/22
• Guest Speaker, TBA • Business Casual Attire!
3/1
• No Class Today! • Spring Break - Have Fun!
3/8
• Guest Speaker, TBA • Business Casual Attire!
3/15
• Plain English Rules
3/22
• No Class Today! • Work on Mentor Memos
3/29
• Mentor Memo Discussion
• Mentor Memos Due
4/5 • Course Evaluations
• Legal Liability of Accountants • Business Casual Attire NOT Required!
4/12
• No class Today! • Study For Finals - Good Luck!!!
4/19
NOTE: Guest speaker dates are subject to change due to work obligations. I will inform you of changes as soon as they occur so that you can
appropriately.