Left: The bookstore on the campus of Universite Quisqueya.

Abstract

Missouri Southern State University (MSSU) is pleased to partner with Université Quisquéya (UniQ) in the areas of accounting and finance. Since 1995, MSSU has embraced a state-supported International Mission, and a commitment to UniQ will allow us to further our institutional priority of linking international activities to our core mission.

MSSU’s Robert W. Plaster School of Business Administration (SOBA) will be responsible for implementing the partnership with UniQ. SOBA’s accounting program focuses on accounting education, financial statement forensics, advances in accounting technology and policy, accounting ethics, and strategic cost management. Our program is one of the top in the state of Missouri, ranking first in the state among public institutions in number of graduates passing the CPA exam with only a bachelor’s degree in 2006. In addition, The School contains a state-of-the-art investment center that allows students insight into real-world securities analysis and financial trading.

SOBA’s partnership with UniQ will allow a minimum of 7 students to complete the baccalaureate degree in accounting at MSSU. In consultation with our constituencies, including members of the Haitian Diaspora and NGOs in Haiti, we will develop a fair and transparent method for awarding scholarships. Preference will be given to women and those from disadvantaged backgrounds. A detailed needs analysis of the UniQ curriculum will allow SOBA to plan a customized, structured degree program that will form the basis for course articulation.

MSSU’s small class sizes and emphasis on teaching allow direct contact with faculty and more opportunity for hands-on, collaborative learning experiences. Academic support will be provided in the form of mid-semester evaluations. Social support is available through our Advising and Counseling Center, and an Advisory Board comprised of members of the Haitian Diaspora, including a young alumnus of MSSU’s School of Business, who will meet regularly with the students. Further, a distinctive aspect of our proposal is that through our international partnerships, we can offer UniQ students and a faculty member a short-term program at the Université de Savoie, Chambéry, France, to study European Methods of Finance and Accounting.

In the area of faculty development, MSSU will bring UniQ faculty members to our campus as visiting scholars. During these visits, UniQ and MSSU faculty will have ample time to discourse on issues related to program support and professional development in teaching and learning. In addition, UniQ faculty will undergo training in the areas of entrepreneurship, workforce development, and small business administration in order to positively impact economic development in Port-au-Prince and beyond.

The goals and objectives of the project will be defined by a comprehensive needs analysis, and met by course development, faculty development, and a rigorous plan of monitoring and evaluation. A required capstone internship or research project in Haiti will ensure that graduates return home upon completion of the program.

Project highlights include:

Year One:

1. Needs assessment and course development leading to articulation agreement
2. Formation of Advisory Board representative of various constituencies
3. Development and implementation of plan to select candidates

Year Two:

1. Commencement of coursework
2.  Ongoing evaluation and course improvement
3. Faculty exchange (visiting scholars)
4. Study European Methods in France and begin internship/research in Haiti

Year Three:

1. Ongoing evaluation and course improvement
2.  Completion of capstone internship/research in Haiti

MSSU’s team consists of talented, credentialed personnel with experience in accounting and finance. Several are proficient in the French language. In addition, faculty in the areas of
International Business and Intensive English, as well as members of the Haitian Diaspora, have been recruited to ensure the success of this project. The Institute of International Studies will provide ongoing support as needed.

A procedure for introspective monitoring and evaluation will be developed based on the initial needs assessment. A baseline of standards and criteria needed to meet those standards will be set. At the beginning of the program, each institution will quantitatively monitor the program from its perspective, and the data will be presented to the advisory committee for an objective evaluation. The advisory committee will review the data and respond with a list of strengths, areas for improvement, and recommendations. Ongoing evaluation will assist the team in setting future goals and benchmarks.