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KALAMAZOO, Mich.—Accounting is a field that is based on numbers, but a professor at �鶹��ý’s Haworth College of Business has found a way to see beyond the numbers and connect with �鶹��ýs in a meaningful way.

Brittani Shantel Jackson, assistant professor of accountancy, has a passion for connecting with her �鶹��ýs and setting them up for professional success. She created a check-in system that she uses in her classes to give �鶹��ýs ownership of their academic performance, while also providing her a concrete way to support them individually. 

“At the beginning of each semester, I have my �鶹��ýs complete a quick questionnaire on eLearning, asking them their preferred grade at the end of the semester,” she says. “This grade accountability system aims to establish a baseline course expectation for each �鶹��ý in my courses.”

Jackson then monitors grades throughout the semester to see if �鶹��ýs are meeting their personal goals. “Throughout the semester, typically after exams, I will send a quick email to encourage �鶹��ýs to check their grades and compare them to their established desired grades. This allows �鶹��ýs to hold themselves accountable for the level of success they set at the beginning of the semester. If I notice that �鶹��ýs may not achieve their desired grade, I send a personalized email encouraging them to stop by my office hours to reestablish expectations.”

Students are raving about this innovative approach and Jackson often has a crowd waiting to talk to her before class begins. 

In a recent class, Jackson contacted about 25% of the �鶹��ýs because their desired grade was unmet. “�鶹��ý 80% of those �鶹��ýs attended office hours and left with a plan to improve their grades and a smile because they knew I cared about their success.”

Junior Emily Yacapraro was in Jackson’s class her first semester after transferring to WMU. She says, “Professor Jackson cares deeply about her �鶹��ýs and their successes both inside and outside of the classroom. From my first class, I knew I would excel in her environment because of her passion for teaching and caring for others. She is very organized, which makes it easy to stay on track with class goals and concepts and promotes the best understanding of financial accounting.”

And Jackson’s support extends beyond the walls of her classroom. Senior David Jones recalls, “I was struggling with a financial analysis paper for another class and brought it up to her one day before class. She took the time to pull up the financial statement of the company and explained each section and broke it down so I could understand it.”

The exercise of intentionally thinking about goals is one that benefits �鶹��ýs in a number of ways. As Jackson says, “Goal-setting helps �鶹��ýs develop agency, realistic expectations and encourages them to stretch themselves, because it puts a vision to paper.”

Accountability is just one of the ways that Jackson connects with her �鶹��ýs. She also takes the time to get to know them and integrates �鶹��ýs’ interests into her lessons. “One of my �鶹��ýs wanted to be a pilot for Delta Airlines, so when discussing certain accounting topics, I used Delta Airlines as a key company for the day,” Jackson says. “Another �鶹��ý was interested in working for Fenty Beauty, so when discussing Inventory, I used Fenty Beauty as an example of a company with inventory.”

This approach is making its mark with �鶹��ýs. Junior Elijah Hutchings, aviation major, says, “Professor Jackson’s class was the best class I’ve had in my college career. Because she put effort into treating us kindly, being open and relating concepts to everyday things we like and can understand, accounting was manageable. For example, when she broke down the accounting books for Beyonce or a monthly credit card bill, she held our interest and made the information relevant. She created a healthy environment in her class that set the tone for �鶹��ýs to respect themselves and each other.”

The lessons that Jackson is imparting in her classes are ones that �鶹��ýs will continue to use throughout their lives. 

Yacapraro says, “Professor Jackson is truly a one-of-a-kind professor who cares deeply about her �鶹��ýs. She will do anything to help others expand their knowledge of accounting as well as life skills. To this day, Professor Jackson supports me as I work toward my major. She has forever impacted my academic career here at �鶹��ý.”

Learn more about accounting at WMU.

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