Recent Accomplishments AACSB Accreditation Initiative Update. The accreditation plan for the College of Business at West Texas A&M University has been accepted by the AACSB International PreAccreditation Committee. The College will work with a mentor and peer-review team to implement the plan in an effort to complete the final steps toward the AACSB effort. AACSB accreditation is generally considered to be the highest level of accreditation for a College of Business. The College of Business has been accredited by ACBSP but has focused more recent efforts on AACSB aspirations. Among the goals of the University’s strategic plan is to seek the highest level of accreditation for all academic programs. Accounting Students Hit the Big Screen. Dr. Darlene Pulliam and her ACCT 4/5311 students were featured in the Channel 4 KAMR-TV "Smart Money" segments on March 5, 2009 and March 7, 2009. Working with the IRS's Volunteer Income Tax Preparer program, they were preparing tax returns for low income or elderly taxpayers at the Canyon City Library. The students prepared and e-filed 50 tax returns. SIFE Success. March 27, 2009 WTAMU’s Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE) team won at regional competition and advanced to the national level of competition for the 15th consecutive year. The team will compete at nationals in Philadelphia in May. SIFE placed third at the Walgreen's Wrangle Case Competition in Magnolia, Ark. on Oct. 18, 2008. The 12-team competition included the University of Alabama, LSU and the University of Arkansas. Faculty Awards. The College of Business announced the following winners of the 2009 faculty and staff awards: Teaching Excellence Award to Karen Cooley, instructor of accounting; Research Excellence Award to Dr. Darlene Pulliam, professor of accounting; Service Excellence Award to Dr. De'Arno De'Armond, assistant professor of marketing and finance; and Staff Service Excellence Award to Betty Stocker, administrative assistant to the dean.
Dr. Macy Honored. Dr. Anne Macy, Professor of finance, has been selected as the Outstanding Teacher for 2008 by the Southwestern Society of Economist and the International Federation of Business Disciplines. Dr. De'Armond Honored. Dr. De'Arno De'Armond, assistant professor of marketing and finance, received the outstanding paper award October 2009 by Academy of Financial Services at the Annual Meeting of the Financial Planning Association.
Torch Awards. The Better Business Bureau, in partnership with the College of Business at West Texas A&M University, awarded the Torch Award for Marketplace Ethics to three companies and one nonprofit for 2009. This year's winners are: Zips Care Wash (Small Business), Prudential Ada Realtors (Medium Business), La Fiesta Grande Restaurants (Large Business), and Consumer Credit Counseling Service (Nonprofit). | 
