Rowan University recently gave accounting students a chance to experience a different side of accounting, namely that of the Internal Revenue Service.
Students were trained to be agents for the Internal Revenue Service's Adrian Project. During the day, students are sworn in and take part in a mock criminal investigation.
The project gives students an opportunity to learn tactics under the people that train special agents in the way actual special agents would be trained. It also gives students a glimpse of a different side of accounting.
"Not a lot of people know the law enforcement side to accounting,'' Robert Glantz, an IRS public information officer, told the South Jersey Times of Woodbury. "People think all accountants do is sit behind a desk, but it's not true.''
Students took part in an 8-hour mock criminal investigation complete with interviews with informants and witnesses, analyzing documents and training to properly conduct an arrest. They were also given defense tactics training where students put on bulletproof vests and holsters with fake guns and practiced using handcuffs on special agents and professors. At the end of the day, there was a "take down'' which let students perform an arrest.
With the project offering complete training and a hands-on experience for the students participating, many professors are excited to have the students benefit from the Adrian Project.
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Professors Richard Marmon, Tracey Fabrico-Basile and Robert Scarpa helped set this project up for students.
"It's a tremendous opportunity for the students,'' said Marmon. ``When interviewing, they were able to use their own intuition.''
Fabrico-Bastile agreed and also mentioned the other benefits to this project.
"I think it's fabulous. Plus it opens doors for students because when they leave here, they'll have these connections with these special agents and it's great networking,'' she said.
Students also had a good experience with the project early in the day.
"About a half hour into the program, one student told me that this is what she definitely wanted to do,'' said Marmon.
Alumni also lent a hand in helping with this project. Assistant Dean of Rowan University's College of Business, Margaret Van Brunt, noted she was happy to see some alumni working with the IRS and this project.
"It's great to see the alumni giving back to our students,'' she said.
Overall, the project gives the students a great experience that a classroom lecture could not do.
"The project gives students an experience a regular class would not,'' said Glantz. "It's a one of a kind, unique experience that's real and makes them feel like they're one of us.''
