ASSET for success: Accounting launches technology giveaway for students

UAA accounting and bookkeeping majors taking classes through the Anchorage campus now have the opportunity to win a new computer each semester, thanks to a new Department of Accounting program funded by the Lenore and George M. Hedla Endowment.

The Accounting Student Success and Engagement Tech (ASSET) program, which launched last semester after a multi-year effort spearheaded by accounting professors Teresa Stephenson and Stasia Straley, awards students points based on grades in accounting and bookkeeping courses as well as participation in tutoring and the Accounting Club. Eligible students are automatically entered into the giveaway, with winners selected using a transparent spreadsheet-based process at the end of each semester.

"As a department, we looked at how many students are using old computers or cell phones or inadequate computers, and we thought that this might be a nice way to recognize and support our students," said Straley. Many courses in the accounting program require using software like Excel and QuickBooks - behemoths that are even more difficult to use, if not impossible, on the wrong device. The ASSET program aims to alleviate that hardship by awarding top-of-the-line Dell laptops to actively engaged students each semester. The computers are purchased through UAA Information Technology Services, which also offers students free tech support on the devices.

To help maximize impact, the program is designed to give lower-level students a slight advantage so that they can use the computer throughout their academic career. A grade of C or better in eligible 100- and 200-level courses nets a student four points, while the same grade for 300- and 400-level courses is worth two points. Students receive an additional point for earning an A or B. The points system is intentionally broad.

"You don't have to have a perfect 4.0 to receive a benefit - as long as you're here, you're showing up, you're putting work in, that matters," said Straley. "A lot of times I have students who think they're not good enough to be here or they can't make it through, and this shows that we value everybody and we want everybody to succeed."

Students can also earn points through more than just grades. Additional incentivized activities include serving as an officer in the Accounting Club and participating in tutoring (whether as a tutor or tutee). In addition to improving the odds of winning, research shows that both activities could help make students more likely to graduate by increasing their sense of belonging.

Scenes from the ASSET program's first giveaway: CBPP Enrollment Manager/Graduate Advisor Andrea Jones carries balloons en route to the celebration; Professor of Accounting Stasia Straley surprises students Cody Jorgensen, Morgan Buwalda and Brooke Schurosky; Professor Straley surprises student Alli Lightle; and student David Murray receives his laptop. (All photos by James Evans / University of Alaska Anchorage)

For the program's first giveaway, the department awarded laptops to five students last semester: Alli Lightle, David Murray, Morgan Buwalda, Cody Jorgensen and Brooke Schurosky. The winners got the news and their computers during a surprise in-class announcement and celebration before being directed to complete the official acceptance process.

"They were really supportive of each other, really surprised, because I hadn't told them what it was," said Straley. "I did email the students ahead of time to make sure they would attend, but I just said, 'we have a gift for you, we want you to come…' and then we brought balloons and made it a very festive day."

The department will award five more laptops to the winning students this semester. The plan is to not just continue the giveaway, but to grow it.

"If I had my wish, it would be for the program to expand and go to 10 computers next year, or 20, or 30 or 40. I would love to see a computer in the hands of every incoming student," said Stephenson.