Wayne State students learn by serving Detroiters during tax season

DETROIT - Each winter, as tax season approaches, Wayne State University students can be found doing more than studying accounting rules or preparing for exams. Many are sitting across the table from Detroit-area residents, helping them sort through tax documents, answer questions and file returns that can make a meaningful difference in their lives.

This work takes place through a long-standing partnership between Wayne State's accounting department in the Mike Ilitch School of Business and the Accounting Aid Society's (AAS) Income Tax Assistance program. The collaboration connects accounting students with hands-on tax preparation experience while providing free, high-quality services to individuals and families across Southeast Michigan.

Gregory Schulte, an accounting professor at Wayne State, is the liaison between the university and the AAS. Having spent years in public accounting before joining Wayne State full time last fall, Schulte sees the partnership as a natural extension of the university's mission and its deep roots in Detroit.

"The students are getting something you simply can't replicate in a classroom," Schulte said. "They're working with real people, real documents and real consequences. At the same time, they're helping members of the community who truly need this service."

Before volunteering, students complete an intensive training process that includes IRS certification and hands-on instruction using TaxSlayer, the software platform used by AAS. Wayne State supports the program by providing campus space, including computer labs, for training sessions. Once certified, students volunteer in four-hour shifts at AAS sites throughout the region, including offices in Detroit and Ferndale.

At each location, students work alongside experienced tax preparers, gradually building confidence as they assist clients and prepare returns that are reviewed prior to filing. For many taxpayers, the service is critical. A completed return or long-awaited refund can help cover rent, utilities or other basic needs, keeping money circulating within local communities.

For students, the experience goes far beyond technical knowledge. Schulte emphasizes that public accounting is ultimately a service profession rooted in trust, communication and ethical responsibility. Sitting with a taxpayer to ask sensitive questions and clearly explain outcomes challenges students in ways a classroom cannot.

"It helps them learn how to talk to people, how to listen and how to build trust," Schulte said. "Those are skills employers care deeply about."

The partnership between Wayne State and the AAS has existed for many years, well before Priscilla Perkins joined the organization as president and CEO in 2022. Over time, Wayne State students and alumni have become an essential part of AAS's workforce and its ability to serve the community.

For the 2026 tax season, 11 AAS staff members are Wayne State alumni, including seven hired as seasonal staff. During the 2025 tax season, the organization employed five current Wayne State students and six graduates. On average, AAS hires between seven and 12 Wayne State students each year, with an estimated 30 to 39 alumni and students brought on over the past several years. The organization's human resources team also regularly participates in the Mike Ilitch School of Business Career Fair and Wayne State's All-Majors Career Fair.

"Wayne State students play a vital role in helping AAS return more than $30 million to hardworking taxpayers each year and save families over $7 million in tax prep fees, while gaining meaningful, real-world experience through a long-standing community partnership," Perkins said.

She added that students work directly with clients, preparing returns, explaining credits and helping families navigate a tax system that can often feel overwhelming. Their involvement allows AAS to serve thousands more households each tax season and ensures refunds and credits are reinvested in local neighborhoods.

The partnership is one of several ways the Mike Ilitch School of Business integrates community engagement into student learning. Across the school, faculty, staff and students connect coursework with service and professional development.

One such effort is Warrior Consulting Group, a student-run organization advised by Kevin Ketels, director of entrepreneurship and innovation at the Ilitch School. This winter semester, Warrior Consulting Group students will work with startups based at Newlab to provide consulting-style services to help emerging companies tackle real business challenges.

"Warrior Consulting Group is the largest consulting group on campus," said Krish Gulati, the organization's president. "Last semester, we staffed around 70 students on 11 different Newlab companies. This semester, we slightly downsized, going for 40 students on eight projects, but we're still focused on giving students a quality experience working on Detroit-based startups."

Community engagement also takes shape earlier in the educational pipeline. Lauren Scott, who manages the Mike Ilitch School of Business' MPREP program, shared that MPREP students are organizing a community service event planned for March. The group expects to volunteer at a local elementary school in support of reading month.

Together, these efforts highlight how Wayne State's approach to engagement as a two-way exchange. Students gain experience, confidence and purpose, while communities receive tangible support.

For Schulte, the AAS partnership exemplifies that balance.

"It's about preparing students for their careers," he said, "but it's also about reminding them why this work matters. You're not just filling out forms. You're helping people."