Participants are invited to submit an essay--as individuals or joint authors--addressing the announced topic, Earnings Management/Creative Accounting: What it is, and how can it be combated? Essays written as course assignments are welcomed. Submissions are reviewed by a screening committee, and the top essayists will participate in the presentation component of the competition. A panel of judges composed of faculty, friends and alumni determines the top presentation, and allocates awards.

Eligibility: All DePaul University students in good academic standing are eligible to participate. Students may participate as individuals, or up to three co-authors. A goal of the contest is to attract as wide student participation as possible. Essays submitted as class requirements are welcomed.

Awards: First place: $1500; second place: $1000; third place $500. Judges, however, reserve the right to allocate award amounts. Awards will credited immediately to the students' financial accounts at DePaul University.

Format: Manuscripts must be at least five typed, double spaced pages, including citations and references, if used. No manuscript or citation format is preferred or required, and any commonly-used format or style is acceptable. Submissions may be electronic or hard copy as the participant prefers. An attached cover sheet with the author's name, address, email, phone number(s) and university ID number is required; authors' names are not to appear within the text or any header used throughout the text.

Criteria:

Substance: The essay must address the announced topic of the Goglin Contest, this year Earnings Management/Creative Accounting: What it is, and how can it be combated? Specific treatment of the announced topic is left to the discretion of the authors. The essay should be analytical, supported by research, and demonstrate familiarity with both the authoritative literature relevant to the topic and the occurrence of and importance of the issue in contemporary accounting practice. Students should show a good grasp of concepts involved, and mastery of the professional and technical issues are involved.

Serious participants should avoid narratives of personal experiences and reiterations/summaries of well-known cases, and limit technical discussion of relevant authoritative literature. Form: The essay should be articulate, clear and precise, observing the basic rules of composition (spelling, punctuation, vocabulary and grammar), and well organized, with a clear conclusion. If footnotes and a bibliography are used, any standard research citation format is acceptable.

Presentation criteria: In the subsequent presentation component, the presenter(s) should demonstrate clarity, poise, and speaking ability, as well as persuasiveness and conviction, and familiarity with the topic. Presenter(s) may be questioned by the panel of judges, and asked to “defend” their ideas and conclusions. (Use of presentation technology is optional).

Schedule: Essay submission deadline: Friday, May 4, 2007.
Presentations: Thursday afternoon, May 24, 2007, DePaul Center

Submit entries to Dr. Tim Lockyer,
School of Accountancy and MIS,
6012 DePaul Center (or mailbox),
or email to tlockyer@depaul.edu

The purpose of the contest and symposium is to stimulate and encourage excellence in two professional concerns of all university students: an appreciation of the centrality of right conduct in business practice, and the necessity for superior communication skills. Goglin contest goals include

• Focusing attention on timely issues in business and accounting
• Encourage research and out-of-classroom thinking
• Recognition of the need for strong communication skills
• Rewarding the highest achieving students
• Demonstrating the School's and the university's commitment to professional ethics and right conduct in the business professions

Edward and Mary Goglin were long time admirers of DePaul University, especially its accounting program, and enjoyed taking an active role in enhancing a DePaul accounting education. Although they never attended the university, they went to many Men’s basketball games coached by Ray Meyer and played in the old “Barn” on the Lincoln Park Campus. Mary Goglin never formally studied accounting; however, she did the books for the family business.

Ledger & Quill is pleased to serve as a co-sponsor of the 2006-07 Goglin Contest. Ledger & Quill president for 2006-07 is David A. Berek, Credit Suisse.

For more information on the Goglin Contest, contact Dr. Tim Lockyer, School of Accountancy and MIS, 6012 DePaul Center, 312-362-5379, or email tlockyer@depaul.edu