The Department of Accounting and Information Systems at CSUN was awarded $500,000 grant from the Ernst ‘ Young accounting firm. Another half a million dollars was matched by CSUN alumni professionals who work for Ernst ‘ Young, bringing the total to $1 million.

The money will be used to fund the future Ernst ‘ Young Center for Career Advancement, which will cater to more than 1,300 students. The center will provide career counseling for students pursuing professional careers in accounting and information systems.

“I think it’s a really good thing for the school,” said Sadia Khan, a freshman accounting major. “I think they should purchase more computers for the information technology labs because it would benefit the students.”

CSUN alumnus Jeff Rosen, an Ernst ‘ Young associate, helped facilitate the grants toward the department by informing CSUN about the generous grant being awarded. CSUN was one of five schools awarded the $500,000 grant after competing with 40 other schools. After being awarded the grant, local Ernst ‘ Young associates decided to match the $500,000 bringing the total to $1 million for the department of accounting and information systems.

In addition to professional counseling for students, the Ernst ‘ Young Career center will provide career days, career coaching, assist students with on-campus interviews, job searching skills and resume writing. The center will establish the Winter Accounting Internship Program, which will offer full-time internships for students throughout the academic year, enabling students simultaneously to gain college credit and experience.

“We are excited to provide CSUN with these critical resources,” said Ernst ‘ Young Vice-Chair Peter Griffith. “We have been extremely happy with the quality of CSUN students and are looking forward to having even more of them join our firm in the years ahead.”

The department of accounting and information systems received a $151,000 community engagement initiative grant last fall from the Ernst ‘ Young professional service firm, which launched a two-year community college outreach program to engage a wider diverse group of students in the accounting and information systems program.

Paul Lazarony, associate chair of accounting and information systems, said the center will be open this coming fall. The center will be located within the College of Business and Economics building as soon as a space is determined, and students who have graduated will still have access to the center a year after their graduation to further help CSUN alumni.

“We want to better prepare our students for their careers,” said Lazarony. “We want to do a better job of matching and linking our students with professionals already in the field.”

Partners from Ernst ‘ Young’s professional services firm have agreed to teach tax and audit classes at CSUN, in addition to contributing scholarships and funding for five Ernst ‘ Young Tax Fellows annually for students in the master’s program in taxation.

“Expanding the school’s programs is progress towards a brighter future for future students,” said CSUN senior Harout Bagdasaryan, a business finance major.