For Release:       Immediate ­ October 28, 2015

Contact:              Jerry Gretzinger, Vice President of Strategic Communications and Public Relations ­

(518) 956-7359 | jgretzinger@sunypoly.edu

SUNY Polytechnic Institute’s Accountancy Program Ranked Third In Nation

Nationwide Ranking Highlights Student Return on Investment at SUNY Poly

UTICA, NY – As a testament to Governor Andrew M. Cuomo’s commitment to provide world-class educational opportunities throughout New York State, SUNY Polytechnic Institute (SUNY Poly) today announced that its Master of Science degree in Accountancy has been ranked 3^rd nationwide among top online business and accounting schools.

“Programs offered by SUNY colleges and universities throughout the state are consistently recognized for academic excellence as we provide students with enriching higher education experiences that position them for success in both college and career,” said SUNY Chancellor Nancy L. Zimpher.  “Congratulations to Dr. Kaloyeros, the SUNY Poly faculty, and the entire campus community on this much deserved ranking.”

“Under the leadership of Governor Cuomo, SUNY Poly continues to expand upon the excellence of its academic programs and this national ranking for our Accountancy program is a resounding endorsement of the quality education we provide to our students,” said Dr. Alain Kaloyeros, President and CEO of SUNY Polytechnic Institute. “SUNY Poly is extremely grateful for its faculty and staff members whose expertise and dedication have established our institution as a leader in higher education.”

The website accounting-degree.org, evaluated schools across the country, taking into account “accreditation, cost, and available information regarding prestige and student satisfaction.” The program’s ranking of #3 in the nation sets it ahead of other ranked institutions including Texas A&M (#5), St. Johns University (#8), and Northeastern University (#9).

“Our faculty are incredibly committed to making sure our students receive the absolute best level of education anywhere, and this is further evidence that they are doing that, and doing so incredibly well,” said Dr. Robert Geer, Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer at SUNY Poly. “This ranking guarantees that the programs offered to students who choose to come to SUNY Poly are of the highest caliber.”

SUNY Poly’s Master of Science in Accountancy program is registered to satisfy the 150-hour licensure requirement for New York State and was developed in response to two demands. The first was the increasing number of accountants who held undergraduate degrees in accounting and wanted to further their skills to pursue additional professional accounting opportunities. These opportunities included public, corporate, not-for-profit and government accounting. Additionally, in view of the 150-credit hour education requirement established by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) starting in the year 2000, the program was developed to qualify students to sit for professional accounting examinations that lead to credentials such as the CPA (Certified Public Accountant) and the CMA (Certified Management Accountant) designations.

“This recognition is a wonderful testament to the hard work and dedication of both our students and our faculty and is evidence of the top-tier education at SUNY Poly,” said Dr. William Durgin, Provost for SUNY Polytechnic Institute. “We are elated to be honored by the Accounting Degree Review for our outstanding level of excellence in the Master of Accountancy program.”

According to the United States Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics, there were more than 1 million accounting jobs in the U.S. as of 2012, offering a median pay of $63,550 a year. Accountants and auditors prepare and examine financial records, ensuring that financial records are accurate and that taxes are paid properly and on time. Accountants and auditors also assess financial operations and work to help ensure that organizations run efficiently.

“We are thrilled and incredibly honored that accounting-degree.org has taken notice of the outstanding work being done here at SUNY Poly and the unparalleled level of education our students receive in our Accountancy program,” said Dr. Robert Yeh, Interim Dean of the College of Health Sciences and Management. “This wonderful distinction is evidence that SUNY Poly educates and graduates the best accounting students in the world.”

The profession, according to the Labor Bureau, is projected to grow 13 percent from 2012 to 2022. In general, employment growth of accountants and auditors is expected to be closely tied to the health of the overall economy. The Bureau states that as the economy grows, these workers will continue to be needed to prepare and examine financial records.

“This is an incredible indication of the fine work and commitment to education by our department. That drive and investment results in the best accountants and auditors handling the finances of businesses across the globe,” said Dr. William Langdon, Chairman of the Department of Business Management at SUNY Poly. “We are so proud to not only offer the highest quality of education that has become our hallmark, but to now have the rest of the world take notice as well.”

The SUNY Poly Master of Science in Accountancy program is primarily intended for students who have the equivalent of an undergraduate degree in accounting. Students who may not have a background in accounting but desire an opportunity to broaden their capabilities and specialize in this area are afforded the option of doing so. These students would be required to include additional preparatory work in their program and would do that under the guidance of the program coordinator.