UNO Accounting Faculty Introduce Innovative Solution to Improve Student Success

Highlights:

• Faculty-driven initiative targets retention in foundational accounting courses.

• Zero-credit lab adds student support at no additional cost.

• Implementation begins Fall 2025.

Accounting faculty members in the College of Business Administration’s School of Accounting at the University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO) are taking proactive steps to enhance student success in Principles of Accounting I (ACCT 2010), a cornerstone course for accounting and business students.

Accounting faculty collaborated to design an innovative, student-centered approach to address retention challenges in ACCT 2010, a course often perceived as difficult due to its role as an introduction to accounting.

The team has developed a new embedded zero-credit-hour lab, which will provide additional academic support to students enrolled in ACCT 2010 at no extra cost. This initiative is aimed at demystifying accounting concepts and equipping students with the tools they need to succeed, setting the stage for their continued academic and professional journeys.

“This lab is designed to meet students where they are,” said Dr. Kealey. “We’re committed to breaking down barriers to success and ensuring that every student has the opportunity to excel in their studies.”

Why It Matters

Retention in foundational courses is critical to student success. By integrating additional support into ACCT 2010, this program reflects UNO’s mission to transform lives and foster inclusive, accessible academic opportunities for all students.

“Student success is our major goal. We hope this lab will help the students to have a better understanding of accounting and lay a solid foundation for future careers in business. I am really looking forward to it in Fall 2025!” Dr. Chen said.

Dr. Song echoed these sentiments, saying, “Our students are at the heart of everything we do. We hope this lab provides extra opportunities for our students to deepen their understanding of accounting and apply this business language in practical ways.”

ACCT 2010 is a gateway course for accounting and business majors, and its successful completion is critical to advancing in these fields.

December Lange Treacy, Director of Undergraduate Advising in the UNO College of Business Administration, emphasized the impact of this initiative: “ACCT 2010 can be a challenging course, and this lab is designed to help students build confidence, master the material, and succeed with guidance from faculty who care about their success. It’s an opportunity for students to grow academically and develop valuable skills in a supportive learning environment.”

The new zero-credit lab will launch in Fall 2025 and run for two years. It marks a significant step forward in UNO's efforts to provide innovative, student-first educational experiences.

“Our School of Accounting faculty are invested in our students’ learning and success. With this zero-credit lab initiative for the next two years in our Principles of Accounting I course, the School of Accounting aims to make accounting education accessible to all students and help them build a strong foundation in their academic learning and journey at UNO,” said Dr. Roopa Venkatesh, CMA, Director of the School of Accounting, and Union Pacific Professor of Accounting.

For more information about UNO’s Accounting program and student success initiatives, visit https://www.unomaha.edu/college-of-business-administration/accounting/index.php