Department of Accountancy

Department of Accountancy Excellence Fund

Investing in Future Business Leaders

A message from the Chair

The NIU Department of Accountancy is committed to serving the needs of our students, faculty, community, and profession. We provide students with an innovative and professionally oriented educational experience while promoting impactful research. Our faculty are encouraged to engage in scholarship, teaching, and leadership to sustain their intellectual curiosity.

We actively participate in our community through outreach and partnership, engaging with the profession to uphold public trust and adapt to new challenges and opportunities. Our partnership with you is critical as we embrace exciting changes and tackle the challenges of the 21st century. Please join us!

Why Your Support Matters

We have a legacy of more than 60 years of excellence in accounting education. From the shoulders of giants to today’s award-winning faculty, we remain committed to maintaining a strong and vibrant culture centered on the profession. We rely on contributions beyond tuition and state funding to achieve our goals and accomplish our mission. Your gift to the Department of Accountancy Excellence Fund helps us:

✔ Enhance Student Learning Experiences by providing resources for student success. This includes access to databases for Professor Churyk’s students to calculate abnormal return reactions to beating/missing EPS estimates, or Professor Ellis’s student trip to The Second City to learn about mitigating bias in the accumulation and presentation of financial data.

✔ Alleviate financial barriers through scholarships and support for textbooks and essential study materials so that every student can thrive.

✔ Create networking and professional development opportunities that help students build relationships and refine their interpersonal skills. This includes funding for 90 students to attend the Institute of Internal Auditor’s Conference in Chicago with Professor Cefaratti. Your funds also support our Freshman Mentoring Program, where every freshman who signs up is paired with a senior ACCY student mentor for their first year (and beyond!).

✔ Celebrate student achievements and foster a strong, supportive academic community. This includes funding for student/faculty research, such as the partnership between Professor Hux and one of our outstanding ACCY students whose collaborative research was published in Strategic Finance, the flagship publication of the Institute of Management Accountants. It also includes fun experiences like “Taco Night”, where 125+ students met for dinner, conversation and community, or Junior Kick-Off, where each of our incoming junior students is celebrated as they begin the last two years of our program.

✔ Support Faculty Development by enabling our faculty to engage in cutting-edge research, adopt innovative teaching methodologies, and contribute to the profession’s understanding of today’s most current and important challenges. Our faculty publish the leading textbooks in taxation and data analytics, as well as textbooks in financial accounting research and auditing. We also engage in research that is published in the world’s leading journals and periodicals – research that matters to practitioners, scholars and the academy.

✔ Contribute to our Community through our partnership with Opportunity DeKalb, where our faculty meet with aspiring entrepreneurs to discuss financial management, cash flow, and budgeting. Our faculty serve on over 100 boards, committees and panels in Dekalb and across the globe. We want to help solve problems and add a voice that blends our academic experience with our professional orientation.

Funding Priorities

Your generosity directly impacts these key areas:

🔹 Experiential Learning and Business Engagement Support travel opportunities that allow students to learn beyond the classroom and engage with professionals and businesses throughout Chicago and Northern Illinois.

🔹 Financial Assistance for Learning Materials Ensure all students — regardless of financial hardship — have access to essential textbooks, software and tuition support needed to complete their degrees.

🔹 Networking and Professional Development Host events that provide mentorship, career preparation and industry connections, giving students the confidence and skills to succeed.

🔹 Community and Student Recognition Strengthen the department’s culture by celebrating student accomplishments and fostering a supportive, engaged learning environment.

🔹 Faculty Excellence and Innovation Empower faculty with resources to stay at the forefront of accountancy education, driving research and cutting-edge teaching practices.

Make an Impact Today

Your support enhances student experiences, fosters innovation and strengthens our academic community. Join us in shaping the future of our accountancy department — and to help foster the leaders of tomorrow.