Knowledge that Transforms

The article focuses on the evaluation of student performances. Some schools make student evaluations known to the student body, faculty, or university administration. This usually takes the form of a booklet and may be published for everyone, or only for faculty use. Its purpose is to point out the bad teachers. Faculty, for obvious reasons, have mixed sentiments about such a publication. But, in general it is considered to upgrade the quality level of the faculty by focusing attention upon those doing the worst job of instruction. A complicating factor is that once the student completes the course, it is hard to recall in any detail his performance other than the final course grade. Except for the few outstanding students, it is hard to give opinions about performance and qualities when inquiries are made. One means of having a permanent record of student evaluation is by using a rating sheet such as that developed at the University of Southern California. The questionnaire covers three basic areas, the student's relationship to class activities, personal qualities, and suitability for employment in a certified public accountants firm.

Reviews the book "Survey and Accountancy Education in Australia," by William J. Vatter.

The article reviews the book "Income Determination Theory: An Accounting Framework," by Norton M. Bedford.

The article presents updates on the research projects of the American Accounting Association as of October 1966. The members of the committee of each project are listed. They are expected to suggest ideas and offer comments on the scope of the research project, the research methodology, and the researcher's findings. They are not empowered to block publication, nor may they insert dissents in the final report; they are to be advisory only. The titles of the research projects are also stated in this article.

The tendency for one company to merge or combine with another is a common characteristic of American industry. The primary accounting development during the most recent merger movement has been the "pooling of interests" theory. It is the purpose of this article to explain the basis for the pooling theory and to support pooling as a useful, rational accounting practice when applied in the appropriate circumstances. In the foregoing discussion the view is taken that a business combination consummated on the basis of an exchange of shares does not create a new basis of accountability because the businesses are not affected in a substantive way. Because an accounting entity is largely defined by identification of its owners, who in this case have continued in business much as before, the constituent entities are deemed to have merged and become one without change except as to form and legal requirement. The so-called criteria other than exchange of shares which were originally expressed as necessities to a pooling have been tested and tried and in many cases have been found wanting because they represented unrealistic restrictions on reasonable and necessary activities of a business enterprise.

The article focuses on efforts made by Accounting Careers Council (ACC) to encourage students to take up collegiate education for accountancy and financial management careers. To a great extent, the council's work has been centered around the creation or revision of career brochures and their distribution. However, since 1965 the ACC has embarked upon more overt forms of encouraging promising students to consider accounting as a possible career. These efforts include nation-wide mailings to the American Personnel and Guidance Association and National Council of Teachers of Mathematics. Throughout its passive and active participation in encouraging careers in accountancy and financial management the ACC budget has more or less evolved from around $5,000 a year to its present $18,000 a year. However, it is concluded that budgetary allocations for the ACC should be guided by those factors which are found to be influencing the career choices of promising students. Since career choice is determined by the end of the sophomore year, the ACC funds should be committed to the high school and early collegiate years.

Reviews the book "Careers and Opportunities in Accounting," by James A. Cashin.