A new course at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln builds bridges between first-year students and the professional world while showcasing accounting as a versatile degree with countless career opportunities.

Through meaningful engagement with industry professionals, graduate students and upperclassmen in Accounting Careers & Connections (ACCT 398), the students gain invaluable insights into how they can shape their own career paths.

"This new course provides us in the School of Accountancy with the opportunity to connect with freshman accounting majors in their first semester of college," said Jill Trucke, associate professor of practice in accountancy, who teaches the course. "Our students develop communication skills by engaging weekly with guest speakers from the industry about relevant business topics. They also meet graduate students and upperclassmen so they can develop a network of peers who share their experiences as they find out the many ways they can use their accounting degree in the future."

Industry leaders from companies such as Deloitte, Eide Bailly LLP, Forvis Mazars, KPMG, Lutz, Labenz & Associates LLC, Motorola, Opendorse and PwC, the Nebraska Auditor of Public Accounts and entrepreneurs like Les Robbins, ’77, and Justin Schultz, visited the class to share their insights. They offered a firsthand look at how an accounting degree can open doors to careers far beyond traditional paths.

One of the 44 students in the inaugural class, freshman Maren Heckman from Savannah, Missouri, found the course particularly eye-opening and valued hearing from guest speakers about their experiences.

"I connected with one of the upperclassmen, and she introduced me to a local firm that I will be interning for next semester," Heckman shared. "I learned that there are so many opportunities for students with an accounting major, and it is not just sitting at a desk all day crunching numbers. Les Robbins is a Certified Public Accountant and now is a very successful entrepreneur. This was so interesting to me because it shows that this field has so many more opportunities than many people expect, and you are not just tied down to taxes or auditing because you truly have so many paths you can take in this career."

Robbins shared his personal and professional journey from earning an accounting degree to becoming a business owner. He hopes his story inspires students to dream big and explore the full potential of their accounting degrees.

"By sharing my career path, I want students to know that it doesn’t matter where you start, it’s where you end up in life that really counts," Robbins said. "Everyone’s career path is different. My accounting degree provided a base knowledge that was up to me to apply post-college. As an entrepreneur, knowing the numbers is a definite advantage. That’s why accounting is recognized as the language of business, essential to making informed decisions and ultimately financial success."

Reflecting on his time with the class, Robbins expressed gratitude for the opportunity to connect with the next generation of business leaders.

"If a guy like me can do it, so can they. Significance comes from impacting, encouraging, mentoring and making a difference in others’ lives," Robbins said. "I enjoy the intriguing questions they ask, and hopefully my answers settle any concerns they may have about the choice of accounting as a career. Being amongst young, bright, ambitious college students is always an encouragement to me. They are our future business leaders who will make the world a better place for us all."