Valdosta State University’s student chapter of IMA, the Association of Accountants and Financial Professionals in Business, has been selected as the 2012-2013 recipient of the IMA Gold Certificate of Excellence.

“This speaks volumes of the commitment of the chapter members and of the support we have received from the Langdale College of Business Administration and Valdosta State University administrators,” said Dr. Sanjay Gupta, IMA student chapter faculty advisor and professor of accounting and finance at VSU. “It feels wonderful. I am very proud of the accomplishments of our chapter in only its second full year of existence and of the hard work put in by the members and directors to achieve this distinction.”

Criteria for the certification includes the completion of several activities. VSU’s student chapter participated in activities like conducting plant tours that directly related information obtained in class to the business world and holding chapter meetings that included professional speakers who provided insight into their professions.

“Requirements also challenged students by requiring them to apply for scholarships or sit for a part of the CMA (certified management accountant) exam,” said Gupta. “A certain amount of each task must be completed within the academic year, recorded and submitted properly in hopes of obtaining a high ranking.”

The chapter has also participated in an annual case study competition, which is released each year in the IMA’s publication, Strategic Finance Magazine.

“Students are given the opportunity to participate in a case created by CMA and CPA professionals,” said Gupta. “The case study allows students to analyze data and create business solutions that if put to use would improve the company’s efficiency.”

Gupta added that the chapter participates in various community service activities. In addition to its participation in Second Harvest of South Georgia’s Make a Difference Day, the chapter created a new way to give back to the community by teaching basic accounting and finance knowledge to the Methodist Home for Children last year.

"IMA members taught the children valuable information regarding interest rates, checking and savings accounts and CDs,” he said. “We also incorporated a life-like game into the event.”

The IMA student chapter currently has 38 members. For more information about the organization, visit http://ww2.valdosta.edu/vsu/stuorg/ima/ .