Press Release: Accounting Program Earns Endorsement by IMA (Institute of Management Accountants)
Madison, NJ, (March 13, 2019) – Fairleigh Dickinson University Silberman College of Business is proud to announce that the school’s accounting program has earned endorsement by IMA® (Institute of Management Accountants), one of the largest and most respected associations focused exclusively on advancing the management accounting profession.
IMA’s Endorsement of Higher Education initiative recognizes programs that meet high educational standards, enabling students to pursue and earn the Certified Management Accountant (CMA®) credential. Information about the program is available at http://www.imanet.org/educators.
“Being endorsed by IMA as one of the small number of programs in the world and one of only two in New Jersey is a significant point of distinction for our programs that signifies the quality of our curriculum and commitment of our faculty to student success,” said Andrew J. Rosman, Dean, Silberman College of Business.
Ron West, Chair, Department of Accounting, Taxation & Law noted what the achievement means to the Accounting, Taxation & Law Department at Silberman College.
“Attaining IMA endorsement for our undergraduate program is an important milestone for us and comes at an opportune time with the rapidly increasing pace of the digital age that is leading to a transformative time for the profession.” said West. “The CMA certification is one of the fastest growing certifications, with double-digit growth rates over the past several years. Last year, student membership grew 39 percent year over year, new CMA candidates 52 percent, and new CMAs 47 percent, respectively. We look forward to a continuing and a productive working relationship with the IMA for the benefit of our accounting students and the profession.”
To qualify for endorsement by IMA, schools must meet the following criteria: (1) the program must substantially cover the CMA exam content; (2) the program must have adequate faculty resources to deliver this content; (3) the program must be accredited by a recognized accreditation organization (e.g., AACSB, ACBSP, EQUIS, etc.); and (4) a faculty member must be designated as an IMA Campus Advocate.
“IMA is pleased to welcome Fairleigh Dickinson University Silberman College of Business to the growing list of schools that support the CMA exam program and have achieved a consistent standard of excellence,” said Dr. Raef Lawson, CMA, CPA, CFP, CFA, IMA vice president of research and professor-in-residence.“High-quality, up-to-date educational programs that support the current needs of businesses will help future professional management accountants accomplish their career objectives and meet the competency expectations of employers.”
IMA’s globally-recognized CMA program is a relevant assessment of advanced accounting and financial management knowledge in areas such as financial planning, analysis, control and decision support – each of which is increasingly critical in meeting the changing needs of business, and therefore, essential learning for students of accounting and finance.
About the Accounting, Taxation & Law Department at Fairleigh Dickinson University Silberman College of Business
The Accounting, Taxation & Law Department offers a BS in accounting, a 4+1 combined BS/MS Degree Program whereby students can graduate in five years, as well as an MS in accounting program for those without an undergraduate accounting background. The accounting program was winner of the American Accounting Association’s (AAA) Innovation in Accounting Education Award. In recent years, some of the highest scores in the state on the CPA licensing exam have been posted by our graduates. The department’s MS in Taxation program is one of the oldest and most reputable in the state. In the past, three FDU faculty have been honored with the New Jersey Society of Certified Public Accountants (NJCPA) Outstanding Educator Awards. Regularly, our accounting majors are awarded with scholarships sponsored by the NJCPA and the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB), and others. The department has more than 450 students enrolled in its various programs.
About IMA®(Institute of Management Accountants)
IMA®, named 2017 Professional Body of the Year by The Accountant/International Accounting Bulletin, is one of the largest and most respected associations focused exclusively on advancing the management accounting profession. Globally, IMA supports the profession through research, the CMA®(Certified Management Accountant) program, continuing education, networking and advocacy of the highest ethical business practices. IMA has a global network of more than 100,000 members in 140 countries and 300 professional and student chapters Headquartered in Montvale, N.J., USA, IMA provides localized services through its four global regions: The Americas, Asia/Pacific, Europe, and Middle East/India. For more information about IMA, please visit www.imanet.org.