Rice University’s Jones School to launch James S. Turley-Ernst & Young Leadership Development Initiative focusing on accounting education

David Ruth
713-348-6327
david@rice.edu

Amy Hodges
713-348-6777
amy.hodges@rice.edu

Rice University’s Jones School to launch James S. Turley-Ernst & Young Leadership Development Initiative focusing on accounting education
$2.5 million gift intended to benefit next generation of business leaders

HOUSTON – (June 28, 2013) – Rice University’s Jones Graduate School of Business has received a $2.5 million gift to launch the James S. Turley-Ernst & Young Leadership Development Initiative. This new initiative will help Rice to re-establish its Master of Accounting (MAcc) program — subject to the approval of the Rice Faculty Senate — and train future business leaders in the accounting profession.

The initiative is named for James Turley, the retiring global chairman and chief executive officer of Ernst & Young and a 1977 graduate of Rice’s MAcc program. The $2.5 million gift that made the initiative possible includes $1 million from Turley, $500,000 from Ernst & Young and $1 million from Ernst & Young Rice alumni and various partner donations in honor of Turley.

“As the leader of a global professional services organization, Jim became known for setting an organizational tone that nurtured the provision of world-class services with impeccable professionalism and integrity,” said Tim Griffy, partner in assurance services at Ernst & Young LLP and a 1980 graduate of Rice’s MAcc program. “The Jones School’s new program will produce more leaders like Jim, so it’s fitting that this new initiative is named for him.”

“In serving as Ernst & Young’s global chairman and CEO for the past 12 years, I’ve not only been continually thankful for how my own experience in Rice’s MAcc program prepared me as both a professional and leader, I’ve also witnessed the critical role that academia plays in developing the next generation of business leaders,” Turley said. “I’m confident that reinvigorating Rice’s MAcc program will help countless students build promising careers, while reaching new heights in an already rich history of achievements.”

The new initiative will focus on adding graduate-level courses with historical, practical and theoretical components in auditing, accounting and all aspects of financial reporting, as well as instruction in all forms of communication. The MAcc program was originally offered from 1975 to 1997.

Bill Glick, dean of the Jones School, said that the Turley-Ernst & Young Initiative will also develop and nurture a dynamic accounting graduate education partnership between Ernst & Young and the Jones School. Several graduates of the Jones School’s original MAcc program are leaders in prominent global organizations. “The vision for the re-launch is to replicate this success and provide ethical, judicious, thought leaders for the global accounting profession,” he said.

The Jones School expects to have the first cohort of MAcc students matriculate in fall 2016.

“[The initiative] will be designed as a dynamic partnership with Ernst & Young, continually adjusting to the changing landscape of the accounting profession by developing relevant curriculum and course work,” Glick said. “I am delighted and grateful Jim and the Ernst & Young family will continue to play a prominent role in this endeavor.”

Jones School alumni rate their MBA program No. 4 globally for accountancy, according to the 2013 rankings from the Financial Times.

“The accounting faculty at the Jones Graduate School of Business is highly regarded for its excellence in research and teaching,” said Glick.

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For more information, contact Amy Hodges, senior media relations specialist at Rice, at 713-348-6777 or amy.hodges@rice.edu.

This news release can be found online at https://news2.rice.edu/.

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Related Materials:

Jones Graduate School of Business: www.business.rice.edu

Ernst & Young: www.ey.com

Located on a 300-acre wooded campus in Houston, Texas, Rice University is consistently ranked among the nation’s top 20 universities by U.S. News & World Report. The Jones Graduate School of Business at Rice is one of the world’s leading business schools.  Named in honor of the late Jesse H. Jones, a prominent Houston business and civic leader, the Jones School is distinguished by its strong foundation in accounting, finance, marketing, organizational behavior and management with areas of excellence in energy, entrepreneurship and health care.  Degreed programs include the Rice MBA, MBA for Executives, and MBA for Professionals as well as joint MBAs in medicine, engineering and professional science.  A Ph.D. in Business — in marketing, finance, strategic management, accounting, and organizational behavior — attracts candidates aspiring to become faculty at business schools in prestigious research universities internationally. The Jones School also provides an undergraduate business minor and full schedule of non-credit executive education open enrollment and customized courses for business and industry along with certificates in finance and accounting, health care and marketing.  

Ernst & Young is a global leader in assurance, tax, transaction and advisory services. Worldwide, our 167,000 people are united by our shared values and an unwavering commitment to quality. We make a difference by helping our people, our clients and our wider communities achieve their potential. For more information, please visit www.ey.com. Ernst & Young refers to the global organization of member firms of Ernst & Young Global Limited, each of which is a separate legal entity. Ernst & Young Global Limited, a UK company limited by guarantee, does not provide services to clients. Ernst & Young LLP, a member firm of Ernst & Young Global Limited, provides professional services to clients in the US.

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