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College of Business Names Its 2022-2023 Outstanding Students

In its annual awards banquet, the College of Business celebrated its Outstanding Students of the 2022-2023 academic year.听The awards given celebrate one student who stood out this year in each academic program and recognized student organization. Students recognized have optimized their education by combining exemplary academic performance with internships, volunteerism, professional development, experiential education, and participation in clubs and other important experiences.听See the all of the .

ACADEMIC AWARDS
  • Outstanding Undergraduate Student of the Year –听Will Biernat
  • Outstanding General Business Student – Jose Castro
  • Outstanding Undergraduate Accounting Student –听Daniel Wheeler
  • Outstanding Master of Accountancy Student –听Jake Harris
  • Outstanding Information Systems Student –听Kevin Groce
  • Outstanding Computer Information Systems Student –听Sian Fox
  • Outstanding Cybersecurity Management Student –听Joshua Andrews
  • Outstanding Data Analytics Student –听Maralgua Gansukh
  • Outstanding Master of Science in Applied Data Analytics Student –听Brandy Bryant
  • Outstanding Economics Student –听Takahito Orr
  • Outstanding Finance Student –听Jake DeBusk
  • Outstanding Insurance & Risk Management Student – Will Biernat
  • Outstanding Management Student –听Alli Snodgrass
  • Outstanding Marketing Student –听Delwin Portillo-Orellana
  • Outstanding Innovation & Entrepreneurship Student –听Lauren Martin
  • Outstanding Logistics & Supply Chain Management Student –听Peyton Tolliver
  • Outstanding Human Resources Management Student –听Lauren Vrazel
  • Outstanding Master of Business Student – Kolby Johnson
SERVICE AWARDS
  • Outstanding Biz@Bear Student of the Year – Mason Smith
  • Outstanding COB Student Ambassador – Amaya Whitmore
  • Outstanding Beta Alpha Psi Student –听Kaidan Zheng
  • Outstanding Accounting Club Student –听Carson Griffin
  • Outstanding Gamma Iota Sigma Club Student –听WIll Biernat
  • Outstanding Bears for Advancing Supply Chain & Operations Management (BASCOM) Student –听Peyton Tolliver
  • Outstanding Phi Beta Lambda Student –听Kaddie Bailey
Posted in: COB News, Featured News on April 7, 2023

CISA Professor Honored as Most Valuable Professor by BT天堂Student Athletes

Dr. Mike Ellis was honored last night as “Most Valuable Professor” at the BT天堂vs Arkansas State baseball game for his impact on BT天堂student-athletes. Here Dr. Ellis is pictured with MBA student and right fielder Kolby Johnson, who nominated him for the award. Dr. Ellis serves as an Associate Professor of Computer Information Systems & Analytics. Congratulations, Dr. Ellis!

Posted in: CISA, COB News, _Awards on March 29, 2023 Tagged: , , , , , , , , ,

Top Tax Questions Answered

Ready or not, here it comes. Tax season is underway with about one month left to file individual income tax returns.

The deadline for filing a 2022 federal individual income tax return and an Arkansas individual tax return is April 18, 2023, rather than the usual April 15th deadline, due to the District of Columbia鈥檚 Emancipation Day holiday. If you find yourself unprepared, here are some answers to the top tax questions to get you started.

What documents do I need to prepare my return?

The following are common taxpayers may need to prepare their 2022 tax return.

Employment:

  • You will need your W-2s from every place you were employed during 2022.
  • If you received any unemployment compensation during the year, you will need Form 1099-G from the state paying the unemployment.

Retirement Income:

  • If you were retired or if you took a distribution from a retirement plan, you will need Form 1099-R from each plan that your received a distribution in order to file your return.
  • Furthermore, if you received Social Security, you will also need a SSA-1099.

Investment Income:

  • If you had interest income (Form 1099-INT), dividend income, (Form 1099-DIV) and/or stock sales (Form 1099-B), you will need these related forms.
  • Companies will only send a 1099-INT if you had more than $10 in interest income for the year.

Self-employment Records:

  • If you were self-employed, then you will need to have documentation of both your income and expenses.
  • In certain circumstances, you may receive a Form 1099-NEC and/or 1099-K for earnings as an independent. In addition to your income, you will need records of any business expenses.
  • This includes the business miles you have driven.

听Pass-through Income:

  • If you had an interest in a partnership, LLC, S Corporation, trust, or estate, then you will need the Schedule K-1 from the entity.

Rental Income and Royalties:

  • If you owned rental property, then you will need a record of the rents you received as well as the expenses you incurred on the rental properties.
  • Furthermore, if you received royalty income, then you will need Form 1099-MISC from the company paying the royalties.

Other Income:

  • If you had any other source of income, you need documentation of it.
  • This includes gambling income and cancelation of indebtedness.

Child Care:

  • If you incurred childcare expenses on behalf of a dependent, you will need the total amount of these expenses as well as the tax identification number of the child care provider.

Education:

  • If you were a student in higher education, you will need a Form 1098-T showing the amount of your higher education expenses.
  • Additionally, if you paid student loan interest, you will need Form 1098-E.

Health Insurance:

  • If any point during 2022 you had health insurance through the Health Insurance Marketplace, you will need a Form 1095-A before you can filed your tax return.

听Should I take the standard deduction or itemize?

According to the IRS, approximately 87% of taxpayers elect to take the standard deduction. For a single taxpayer in 2022, the standard deduction is $12,950 and for a couple that elects married filing joint status then their standard deduction is $25,900.听 These amounts increase slightly for taxpayers over age 65 or those that are blind. If the total of your state and local income or sales taxes, personal property taxes, real property taxes, mortgage interest payments, charitable contributions, and a portion of your unreimbursed medical expenses exceeds the standard deduction, then you may want to itemize.

One important thing to keep in mind is that even if you choose to take the standard deduction on your federal return, you may want to itemize on your Arkansas tax return. This is because the Arkansas standard deduction is significantly lower than the federal standard deduction.

听What if I am unable to file by the April 18th deadline?

If you need additional time to file, you may request an extension.

  • To request an automatic 6-month extension of time to file for your federal individual income tax return, Form 4868 should be filed before the filing deadline.
  • The deadline for filing returns with an extension is October 16, 2023.
  • An extension of time for filing a federal tax return is valid for extending your Arkansas individual tax return also.
  • In the event that a taxpayer only need to extend an Arkansas individual tax return, form AR1055 may be filed.

It is important to keep in mind that while you may extend the time for filing a federal income tax return, the extension does not extend the time to pay any tax due. The tax due must be paid on or before April 18, 2023, in order to avoid interest and penalties.

Where can I get help with my Tax Return?

For individuals who generally make less than $60,000, the IRS’s program offers free tax return preparation and e-filing for basic tax returns. All VITA tax preparation volunteers are required to take and pass tax law training exam established by the IRS. In Central Arkansas, there are several VITA sites, including 2 sites in Conway. One is sponsored by United Way of Central Arkansas and the other is sponsored by Arkansas Asset Builders. Taxpayers can find contact information for the VITA sites using the following link:听

In addition to the VITA program, the provides free online tax preparation and filing at an IRS partner site for taxpayer whose adjusted gross income is $73,000 or less. The link for the free filing software is:听

Why is my refund less than last year?

For the 2021 tax year, certain tax credits were increased or had expanded eligibility due to the global pandemic. Many of those credit have returned to pre-pandemic levels for the 2022 tax year.听 Taxpayers taking advantage of these credits may see a decrease in their tax refunds for the 2022 tax year as compared to last year due to these changes. These includes changes in the child tax credit, child and dependent care credit, the earned income tax credit, and charitable contributions.

听Child Tax Credit: For the tax year 2022, the child tax credit has a maximum amount of $2,000 per dependent under age 17. This is down from a maximum credit of $3,600 per dependent in 2021, depending on the dependents age.听 Additionally, while the entire of the credit was refundable in 2021, only up to $1,500 of the child tax credit is refundable per dependent in 2022.

听Child and Dependent Care Credit: The child and dependent care credit has a maximum credit of $2,100 for 2022. 听The maximum credit in 2021 was $8,000. While the child and dependent care credit was refundable for eligible taxpayer in 2021, it is no longer refundable.

听Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC): The amount of the EITC for a qualifying taxpayer with no dependents is $560 in 2022 compared with the $1,502 in 2021 for the same individuals.

听Charitable Contributions: During 2021, taxpayers could deduct up to $300 ($600 for married couples) of cash contributions to charitable organizations even though they claimed the standard deduction. For 2022, taxpayers may only deduct charitable contribution if they elect to itemize their deductions.

is my refund?

According to the IRS, over 90% of refunds are issued in less than 21 days for those taxpayers that e-file their return and have the refund direct deposited into their account.听听 In many cases, the refunds are appearing in approximately 10 business days.听 Taxpayers filing a paper tax return can expect longer wait times on refunds as processing the paper return may take more than 4 weeks. Taxpayer鈥檚 may check the status of their refund using the IRS2Go app on a mobile phone or visiting the following site: .

About the author: Ashley Phillips, JD, LL.M

Ashley Phillips joined the University of Central Arkansas in August of 2016 as a full-time Assistant Professor in the College of Business Accounting Department. Prior to that, Phillips served as an attorney in Tennessee and Arkansas, including as a Senior Attorney for the Internal Revenue Service. At BT天堂she teaches classes like Accounting 2310 for beginners all the way through Advanced Income Tax courses for graduate students.

Phillips earned her Bachelor鈥檚 degree in Accounting from the University of Arkansas, her Master of Laws (LL.M) in Taxation from the University of Florida, and her Juris Doctorate (JD) from the University of Arkansas. Phillips is well known for serving her community though the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program. In 2022, she was awarded听the Peter J. Mehl Service-Learning Faculty of the Year Award for 2021-2022 and the College of Business Excellence in Service award in 2021.

Posted in: Accounting, COB News on March 17, 2023

BT天堂College of Business Unveils the Dr. Conrad Carroll Society Annual Giving Wall on UCA’s 9th Annual Day of Giving

Members of BT天堂and College of Business leadership unveiled the Dr. Conrad Carroll Society annual giving wall today on UCA’s 9th annual Day of Giving. Honored guests in attendance included Dr. Conrad Carroll, his wife Theda, his son, and his daughter in law, there to share in the historical moment.

Educational excellence requires resources, and the Dr. Conrad Carroll Society will provide the BT天堂College of Business with the resources to invest in its programs and people. This annual giving program will position the college to pursue unique opportunities as fresh possibilities emerge and ensure that the college is positioned to thrive in the years ahead.

“We have built a comprehensive college of business and we are providing our students with a remarkable and powerful education. I want to thank Dr. Carroll for his years of strong leadership and recognize the foundation he helped build for our world-class College of Business,” said College of Business Dean, Dr. Michael Hargis. “This program will help us continue to celebrate his lasting legacy for years to come.”

The Dr. Conrad Carroll Society allows the BT天堂College of Business to say 鈥榶es鈥� 鈥�–

Yes to scholarships for exceptional students,
Yes to applied, hands-on learning experiences,
Yes to world-class research and service opportunities, and
Yes to programs that provide transformational experiences for our students and positively impact our community

Those who say yes to the Dr. Conrad Carroll Society will directly impact the College of Business by providing support for people and programs.

  • By supporting people, the College of Business can provide more enhanced professional development to its faculty, assist students in paying for certifications, and send students to conferences and competitions.
  • By supporting programs, the college can enhance classrooms as technology evolves, purchase state of the art equipment, and provide outreach.

The Dr. Conrad Carroll Society recognizes the highest level of leadership in annual giving to the BT天堂College of Business. Members of the Dr. Conrad Carroll Society will see their names proudly displayed within the college lobby to inspire future leaders who walk the halls.

Along with unveiling, the college announced three levels of giving:

  • Emerging Leader: $1,000 annually (10×6)
  • Society Member: $3,000 annually (10×14)
  • Executive Member: $5,000 annually (22×14)

Finally, the College of Business thanked those who have already pledged to join the Dr. Conrad Carroll Society, specifically for the partnerships and generous support that has gotten the college to where it is today.

Anyone who would like to make a pledge to join should contact the college’s Senior Director of Development, Mrs. Jaime Briggs at (501) 852-1263.

Posted in: COB News on March 9, 2023

Senior Accounting Major Amaya Whitmore Secures Full-Time Job After Internship

AMAYA WHITMORE

In fall 2022, Senior accounting major Amaya Whitmore accepted an internship to explore what a career in accounting might be like. Little did she know, her fall internship would extend into spring 2023 and then turn into a full-time job offer after she graduates in May. Learn more about Amaya’s experience and her plans for the future:

Why did you choose this internship?
I saw this position for a paid internship at Dillard’s on Handshake. I wasn’t really looking for an internship when I came across this position, but I was in a rut of trying to decide which route I wanted to take after graduation. So I decided that it would be a great opportunity for me to get some experience and decide if I like working in tax. I had done a lot of research on accounting careers, and public vs. private, and realized that most people go the public accounting route after graduation, so I wanted to see what private accounting was like and to get that experience.

What did you learn at this internship?
My internship at Dillard’s has taught me so much. My favorite part has been being able to put the skills that I have learned into the classroom into practice and see real life examples. Working in the tax field, there is always so much to learn with the laws constantly changing. Also, I have been able to learn so many tips and tricks in Excel. We take courses that focus on Excel in the College of Business, but getting to use the program every day has allowed me to learn many shortcuts and ways to make using Excel more efficient.

How do you think this internship will be beneficial in your career?
I have already learned so much, and I am still learning on a daily basis. The things that I have learned from this internship have already helped me in the classroom setting, so I know it will help me in trying to get my CPA license and anything after that.

How do you plan to use your degree?
I will be graduating from BT天堂with my B.B.A. in Accounting in May. I plan to return to BT天堂in the fall to start the Master of Accountancy program. Also, I plan to start studying to take the CPA exam. There are so many things that someone can do with a degree in Accounting, so I know that my possibilities are endless!

What advice do you have for students who may (or may not) be considering an internship?
The biggest advice that I have is to take advantage of any internship opportunity that you can get! Internships are very beneficial and allow you to get some insight into what you could possibly be doing in the future. It is a great time to figure out what you like and don’t like, and help you decide what you want to do in the future. Plus, you never know the opportunities you can get from your internship… you could end up with a full-time job secured for after graduation!

Posted in: Accounting, COB News, _Internships and Part-time, _Jobs on February 27, 2023 Tagged: , , , , ,

BT天堂College of Business Ranked Among Top 50 Most Affordable Master’s Programs in the Nation for 2023

BT天堂has been ranked as one of the nation鈥檚 top 50 most affordable colleges for online master鈥檚 programs in business. Just six percent of regionally accredited postsecondary institutions earned a ranking position from OnlineMastersDegrees.org (OMD). UCA鈥檚 business programs earned top honors for overall quality, affordability and commitment to student success.

“This year, we focused on the schools making it easier for students to compete in today鈥檚 increasingly difficult job market,鈥� said Kyle Darland, co-founder of OMD. 鈥淓ach ranked school offers a fully or partially online master鈥檚 program in business at a time when earning a master鈥檚 has become a minimum barrier to entry for many.鈥�

Darland is referencing a recent survey from CareerBuilder, which found that 鈥渢hirty-three percent of employers are hiring workers with master鈥檚 degrees for positions that had been primarily held by those with four-year degrees.鈥� These employers cited an evolution of the skills needed to perform the jobs as the cause of the shift, and an increase in work quality, productivity and employee retention as the result.

鈥淧roviding students with opportunities to get a master鈥檚 online is only part of our rankings,鈥� said Darland. 鈥淭op-ranked schools also had competitive tuition rates and/or scholarships to help drive costs down. And with grocery, gas and other expenses on everyone鈥檚 mind right now, an affordable master鈥檚 is key.鈥�

OnlineMastersDegrees.org analyzed more than 7,700 accredited universities by using data pulled from the schools themselves and from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS). After the data was compiled, OMD鈥檚 data science team then applied a proprietary algorithm to rank all qualifying schools for each of the different master鈥檚 degrees specialties. Primary data points include:

  • Academic counseling services
  • Career placement services
  • Student/faculty ratio
  • Tuition
  • Percent of students receiving school-based aid
  • Amount of school-based aid per student

To be eligible for ranking, a university must hold active regional accreditation and have at least one partially online master鈥檚 program in the ranking subject.

About OnlineMastersDegrees.org
OnlineMastersDegrees.org began in 2020 to support online learning at the master鈥檚 level. Our user-friendly, research-backed content helps students find scholarships, resources, financial aid, and connect with accredited colleges and universities across the country.

Posted in: COB News, _Awards on February 10, 2023 Tagged: , , , , , , , ,

Delwin Portillo Shares Recent Study Abroad Experience

Related:听Education Abroad Opportunities 鈥� Upcoming Deadlines

My semester abroad visiting The Hague, Netherlands was easily the most enriching semester of my undergrad. I learned so much about being a leader, diversity, self confidence, personal growth, and of course I learned a lot about business and marketing!

I was able to take a Purposeful Marketing course which had many different components to it. There was a leadership component, in which I learned different leadership skills and how to flesh out and improve these skills. There was a Project Management component where I learned how to use SCRUM Methodology in order to complete a project. And then the Marketing Component in which I worked with a real life charity in brainstorming a new marketing strategy for their upcoming projects.

Over the course of the semester I was able to travel to multiple countries and experience a variety of cultures. I was able to meet many people that I am now able to call mentors and friends. It is an experience that I will never take for granted, and I feel has given me a renewed appreciation for education and traveling. Thank you BT天堂for this fantastic opportunity.

  • Delwin Portillo | Senior | marketing major

Posted in: Accounting, CISA, COB News, EFIRM, Marketing & Management, _All Opportunities, _Study.Abroad on February 2, 2023 Tagged: , , ,

Insurance Professor Dr. Yao Expertise Featured on WalletHub

Assistant Professor Dr. Yao of Insurance & Risk Management contributed his expertise to Wallethub recently on the topic of how much care insurance people need.

Yao addresses why states have different insurance requirements, whether drivers should purchase more than the minimum requirement, and other types drivers can consider.

If you want to read his advice, check out the today.

Posted in: COB News on January 25, 2023 Tagged: , ,

COB Ambassadors Offer Advice and Support to Classmates as Spring Classes Begin

As spring semester begins, student leaders in the College of Business are offering support, encouragement, experience, and advice to their classmates. Check out their tips to succeed, goals they have, and classes they’ve enjoyed.

Izzy Saetelle | Sophomore | Marketing
“I think the most important part of starting a new semester is developing a routine for studying and completing your coursework. This will look different for everyone, so it is important to know what situations you work best in.”

 

Jose Castro | Senior | Business Administration
“My favorite class last semester was Entrepreneurial Finance with Dr. Standridge at 8:00am. That class built my discipline, and I enjoyed listening to a successful businessman teach a business class.”

Jamia Akbar | Junior | Computer Information Systems & Analytics
“A class I really liked this semester: Website Development.听It introduced me to web framework, and I enjoyed learning more about html. I even got to create my own website!”

 

 

Amecia Ellis | Freshman | Marketing
“I鈥檓 very thankful for Dr. Moseley.听She helped me figure out which major I want, as well as helped me gain friends throughout all the events and our meetings every Thursday. One thing I do know is that she is an amazing advisor, and if I ever need help with anything I know I could go to her.”

 

Claire Coon | Junior | Logistics & Supply Chain Management
“Dr. Joe McGarrity’s Intermediate Microeconomics was my favorite class last semester, and I highly听recommend it to anyone with an interest in applying economics outside the classroom.听听The appeal of economics for me has always been how applicable it is to my everyday life, and Dr. McGarrity really emphasized this by extensively teaching on how the concept of Game Theory explains why people make certain decisions.听 His teaching style paired with the class content kept me always kept me engaged; I’ve never been in a class where time passes so quickly. ”听

Tymera Marsh | Freshman | Marketing
“I am thankful for Professor Hurley for making my transition to high school algebra and college algebra easy.”


Reagan Reiter | Sophomore | Accounting
“My goal this year is to stay mentally and physically healthy – finding time to workout and take care of myself.”

 

 

Thanks to our awesome Ambassadors for sharing! Don’t forget about the many tools that BT天堂provides students to help you succeed.

鈥� 听Your听听is here to guide you, so be sure to听听with any questions you have.
鈥� 听offers many tools including free professional clothing from the WOW Closet and听, an online tool that helps you find internships and jobs.
鈥� 听If you’re struggling in a class, you can visit the听听or contact your professor for help.
鈥� 听Read the full听听for more resources.

 

Posted in: COB News on January 12, 2023 Tagged: , , , , ,

Drs. Voss & Cangelosi Release Survey Showing Hair Testing Is More Effective in Detecting Hard Drug Use by USDOT Truck Drivers

BT天堂Management Professor Dr. Doug Voss and Marketing Professor Dr. Joe Cangelosi recently released their findings from a new survey entitled, “Comparing Hair V. Urine Test Effectiveness: Trucking Alliance 2021 Pre-Employment Data,” which examines the differences between hair and urine drug test results, using a sample of 172,632 pre-employment hair and urine drug screens that were administered in 2021.

See the report听|听听Read the News Release

The results showed that hair testing is a more effective method to detect the regular use of hard drugs and drug users than the US Department of Transportation (DOT).

The US Department of Transportation classifies truck driving as a safety-sensitive occupation. For this reason, federally regulated operators of commercial vehicles are required to pass a pre-employment drug test. Urine testing is the primary, federally accepted method. Trucking Alliance carriers supplement DOT urinalysis by requiring drivers to also pass a hair drug test. Hair testing is reliable and accurate due to its longer look-back period to identify regular drug use.

In 2021, 88,021 licensed truck drivers applied for jobs at seven Trucking Alliance member trucking companies. The USDOT required drivers to take both urinalysis and a hair drug test. Here were the results:

  • Four-thousand three-hundred sixty-two (4,362) applicants failed hair tests whereas four-hundred three (403) failed urine.
  • If participating carriers did not use hair testing, they likely would have hired three-thousand four-hundred four (3,959) drivers that failed hair tests. It is likely these individuals are now driving for another carrier, given hair testing results cannot be submitted to the drug and alcohol clearinghouse.
  • Hair testing delivered 11x (5.16%/0.46%) higher overall positivity rate, more frequently detected every drug class, and better detected hard drugs such as cocaine, amphetamines/methamphetamines, and opioids.

鈥淗air tests uncover 11 times more drug users than a urinalysis but the marked difference in positive cocaine, amphetamine/methamphetamine, and opioid tests is most troubling,鈥� observes Dr. Doug Voss at the University of Central Arkansas, who conducted the survey. 鈥淭hese results underscore the inability of urinalysis alone to remove hard drug users from the truck driver population.鈥�

Because听USDOT鈥檚 Clearinghouse doesn鈥檛 accept hair test results, those four-thousand three-hundred sixty-two (4,362) drivers are likely still driving 80,000-pound tractor trailers for other companies, even though the Trucking Alliance companies disqualified them.

The news release announcing these results stated that “the Trucking Alliance has formally requested USDOT鈥檚 trucking agency 鈥� the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration 鈥� to include positive hair tests on the agency鈥檚 list of ‘actual knowledge’ of a truck driver鈥檚 drug use. If granted, these positive hair test results will be submitted to the Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse and the names of those drivers will be known by other employers.” Read more about the pros and cons of this application.

The data was independently provided by J.B. Hunt Transport, Knight-Swift Transportation, Schneider, Maverick USA, KLLM/FFE Transportation Services, US Xpress, and Cargo Transporters.听All 50 states+DC are represented in the sample.

Posted in: COB News, Marketing & Management, _Research on December 6, 2022 Tagged: , , , , , , ,