.. MARCH-APRIL 2007

SIFE Team Wins Regional Competition

The Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE) team won the regional SIFE competition in Seattle on April 5, qualifying them for the national competition. The SDSU SIFE team presented their work done in the BA 404 consulting program in National City and mentorship partnership with San Diego High School, overseen by Marketing Professor Don Sciglimpaglia.

The 15 teams that competed presented what they have done over the academic year to create economic opportunity for others and how they have applied classroom learning to real-world business issues. The teams presented to a panel of judges comprised of 24 volunteer Seattle-area businesspeople.

The SDSU team won $1,500 for placing first in its region and $2,000 for being named as national finalists in two special competitions, market economics and sustainability. They will go on to compete against 270 other teams in Dallas in May at the national competition. The SIFE national champion goes on to compete in the world championship in the fall.

CBA Helps Students with Career Placement

Graduate business students speak with representatives from Viejas Enterprises during the "Meet the Masters" event on April 5. There were 18 companies represented including: Jack in the Box, Gallup Organization, Bumble Bee, Bainbridge, ProFlowers, QUALCOMM and more.

More than ever, the Aztec Business Alliance (ABA) is reaching out to students, as well as the local business community. ABA was originally established to coordinate internships and the case consulting projects which are the capstone to the MBA program. Today, the ABA has expanded to be the liaison between SDSU business students looking for career opportunities and companies seeking talent.

Its stepped-up efforts are due, in part, to more staff members. With two new outreach personnel, ABA is able to have a regular presence at community events which provide great networking opportunities with local business executives and help raise awareness that the CBA is an excellent source of top talent.

Through its partnership with Career Services, which provides a variety of counseling and career fair activities for all SDSU students, ABA staff has begun posting job openings on the Career Services website in hopes that students will retrieve information as soon as opportunities arise.

“Our goal is to supplement the outstanding opportunities provided by Career Services with services that are uniquely geared to business students,” said Aztec Business Alliance Director Chris Graham. “By working together, we can make a real impact on the career opportunities available to CBA students.”

The ABA has taken on several new initiatives this year, including events such as Hire San Diego, a joint graduate student career fair hosted by SDSU, UCSD and USD; Meet the Masters, an opportunity to link students in the master's program to companies interested in their specialized talents; and a career fair for undergraduate business students. All three events are geared to bringing the students face-to-face with business leaders and potential employers. SDSU Career Services contributes greatly to these events by providing resume and interview workshops to students.

In addition, ABA is working hard to ensure that SDSU CBA is included in national rankings. They are working with graduate students to participate in a survey that is eventually submitted to the MBA Career Services Council. The Council then uses the results to publish rankings in U.S. News & World Report and the Wall Street Journal.

Accounting Students Provide Income Tax Assistance to the Community

Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) is a nationally recognized IRS program that gives SDSU accounting student volunteers the opportunity to assist low income taxpayers ($40,000 and below) with filing their tax returns. The annual tax-filing season each spring provides opportunities for accounting majors to gain hands-on experience preparing income tax returns. The program has been in existence for over 30 years.

This year, VITA processed 436 returns and e-filed 400 returns. The total taxable income for all returns processed in 2007 was approximately $1,960,825. Total withholdings amounted to $293,457, while total refunds came to $103,973.

Students in the program will prepare federal, state and city income tax returns, without charge, for anyone meeting certain financial guidelines. The service is provided on a first-come, first-served basis.

SDSU accounting students are trained and certified by the IRS to prepare the tax returns. Volunteers of the program perform a variety of duties; while some prepare income tax returns, others assist clients with intake questions. VITA stresses critical thinking, analysis, and the development of excellent communication skills. Volunteers also develop interviewing skills on confidential matters, and learn to investigate with a human relations dimension.