Beta Alpha Psi to Host Third Annual Ethics Case Competition

PROVO, Utah – Feb 28, 2013 – Financial corruption and scandal often seem like hallmarks of today’s society, but a group of Marriott School students is seeking to combat this problem by providing ethics education to future professionals.

On Saturday, March 2, the BYU chapter of Beta Alpha Psi — the national accounting honor society — is teaching students how to apply ethical standards at its third annual ethics case competition.

“The case competition gives us the opportunity to show students there is more to accounting than numbers,” says Cassy Budd, associate accounting professor and Beta Alpha Psi adviser. “Students need to learn how to effectively apply ethical standards in their professions.”

Both BYU undergraduate students who are not yet admitted to the program and area high school students are invited to participate in the competition. Contestants will be divided into small teams and will submit a proposed solution to a case inspired by actual events. Three winning teams will receive cash prizes.

“The goal is to teach attendees that not everything is black or white,” says Michael Woodmansee, a second-year MAcc student from Carrollton, Texas, and the student coordinator of the event. “Everyone will deal with ethics the rest of their lives, and we want to provide the tools needed to solve these problems.”

One of last year’s participants, Tanner Holtom a pre-management student from Highland, Utah, is grateful for the things he learned at last year’s competition. 

“It was a fun way to learn about ethics from a new perspective,” Holtom says. “I couldn’t wait to enter a university and take classes that focus on doing the right thing.

To participate, interested students should visit the sign-up table in the third-floor atrium of the Tanner Building or email byubapecc@gmail.com. Participants may sign-up in groups or individually. The event will be held from at 12-4 p.m. in W410 TNRB.

The Marriott School is located at Brigham Young University, the largest privately owned, church-sponsored university in the United States. The school has nationally recognized programs in accounting, business management, public management, information systems, and entrepreneurship. The school’s mission is to prepare men and women of faith, character and professional ability for positions of leadership throughout the world. Approximately 3,000 students are enrolled in the Marriott School’s graduate and undergraduate programs.