Reach out: The profession's future depends on you. (Special Report).

For discussion sake, let's accept the following:

* Enrollment in accounting programs is declining;

* Qualified candidates are hard to find; and

* Technology-driven careers and majors are stealing away the best and brightest.

Now, we can either sit back and watch a profession we worked hard to build fade away to the annals of history like the blacksmith or Fuller Brush man, or we can take advantage of the opportunities that California's two new pathways to CPA licensure present and reach out to the next generation of CPAs.

DISAPPEARING ACCOUNTING MAJORS

It is well documented that the supply of accounting majors has shrunk dramatically over the last few years. The most likely reasons for declining enrollment are a booming economy during the second half of the decade, together with more exciting entry-level job opportunities for college students--especially in information technology. Also weighing in is a growing perception among college students that accounting is just plain boring.

Dr. Adel Novin at Winston-Salem State …