VITA

Our College VITA is a coalition of colleges in Queens and Brooklyn that is co-sponsored by the Queens/Brooklyn Chapter of the New York State Society of CPAs. This college VITA coalition began in spring 2010 under the auspices of Associate Accounting Professor Robert Clovey who is a New York State CPA and president of the Queens/Brooklyn Chapter of the New York State Society of CPAs (NYSSCPA). Currently, the coalition comprises of four colleges (Brooklyn College, Queens College, La Guardia Community College and York College) and has recruited more than 500 student volunteers from the campuses.

Our main objective is to create one of the largest internship and networking opportunities for accounting and business students across the nation. It will facilitate teaching skills that are useful to entry-level professionals. These junior professionals will interact with and receive mentoring from seasoned accounting professionals through the direct interaction with CPAs that are members of the NYSSCPA.

During the 2010 tax filing season, Our College VITA engaged approximately 350 student volunteers who served in excess of 5,000 clients and generated more than $5 million in refunds. Our VITA volunteers are primarily Accounting majors. More that 85% of these volunteers are certified at the highest level (Advanced Certification) of certification offered by the IRS.

Our students are rigorously trained to ensure that our clients are provided with the highest level of quality and professional service and are able to obtain the maximum benefits afforded to them. Although a free program, we want all of our clients to feel as if they have paid market price for the services received.

Meet the schools involved in the VITA Program

York College (YC) – York VITA was established by Professor Clovey in the summer of 2007. During 2010, the site utilized the skills and services of approximately 250 volunteers from both Queens College and York College. These volunteers served in excess of 3,500 clients and generated more than $4 million in refunds. The York VITA ranked # 28 out of 9,539 in e-filing VITA sites nationwide. The site is also ranked as the largest college e-filing VITA site in NY State and #2 nationwide.

Brooklyn College (BC) – Brooklyn College VITA was established by Professor Clovey. This VITA site participated in the VITA program for the first time in 2010. In its first year, the site engaged approximately 100 students who prepared more than 1,000 tax returns and generated in excess of $1 million dollars in refunds. The school ranked # 419 out of 9539 sites nationwide.

Queens College (QC) – Queens College VITA was established by professor Clovey in the spring of 2010 and participated in the VITA program for the first time in 2010. This was our smallest and sole appointment-only site. The volunteers served approximately 500 clients at both York at Queens College campuses.

La Guardia Community College (LGCC) – La Guardia Community College is the newest member of the coalition. Students from LGCC will participate in VITA during the 2011 tax filing season.

Vision for OUR COLLEGE VITA

• We envision that in three years, with the support of the Queens/Brooklyn chapter of the NYSSCA, we will incorporate all colleges in Queens and Brooklyn in the coalition. During the summer of 2011, the NYSSCPA chapter members will be visiting the various schools to involve them in this coalition.
• We will establish a high school VITA coalition. This initiative will be rolled out in the spring of 2011 and will work to strengthen the COAP program of the Queens/Brooklyn Chapter of the NYSSCPA.