Canisius University’s accounting program, consistently ranked as one of the nation’s Best Accounting Programs by U.S. News & World Report, is giving students an innovative, first-of-its-kind opportunity to explore real-world challenges in their field with the launch of the Accounting, Upstream Disciplines and Industry Technology (AUDIT) Lab in spring 2026.
Established in partnership with the Aletheia Research Institution, an international research organization, the innovative lab bridges classroom learning with applied research that prepares students to address emerging issues in the accounting profession and adjacent industries.
“The AUDIT Lab brings a level of collaboration rarely seen in accounting programs,” said Clark Banach ‘04, MBA ‘10, PhD, professor of management at Canisius University and program director for the Aletheia Research Institution. “It creates a space where students, faculty and alumni can work together to address the profession’s most pressing challenges and produce research with real-world impact.”
Students in the AUDIT Lab will investigate policy questions, market behaviors and industry challenges while developing critical research skills that complement their accounting education. Primary initiatives include:
Assessment of internal audit technologies: Examining the impact of artificial intelligence and emerging technologies on industry workflow and auditing practices;
Researching emerging tax developments: Exploring international cryptocurrency taxation, sales tax and the internet, emerging tax issues in athletics and regulatory frameworks; and
Developing career resilience: Identifying best practices for accounting professions and individual professional development.
Student research will be published through op-eds, working papers and departmental publications, raising the visibility of student scholarship and giving graduates a professional edge in the marketplace.
“The AUDIT Lab represents the next evolution of the Canisius accounting experience,” added Ian Redpath, JD, LLM, chair of the Accounting Department. “Our graduates have always been known for their practical skills and ethical grounding. This initiative builds on that tradition by offering the kind of serious research opportunities few undergraduate accounting programs provide and preparing students not just to enter the profession but to shape it.”
The National Catholic Reporter featured Canisius in its December 23 edition, highlighting how the university’s Jesuit mission is shaping a culture of environmental stewardship and ecological spirituality on campus.
The story, titled “In its cafeteria and landscaping, Laudato Si’ is alive at NY’s Canisius University,” spotlights the university’s many campus initiatives that integrate care for creation and community, including composting and food upcycling, community gardens, sustainability-focused academics, and immersive ecological learning experiences. The article features Psychology Professor Jenn Lodi-Smith, PhD, and freshman Kylie Conway ’29.
Join the Monthly Grant Group Meet-Up hosted by the IMPACT Center. These informal sessions are a chance to learn from others’ experiences, share progress, get feedback, connect with colleagues, and celebrate wins. You’ll also have the opportunity to find potential collaborators, stay accountable through regular check-ins, and stay informed about upcoming funding opportunities. Whether you’re new to grant writing or a seasoned investigator, join the monthly Grant Group Meet-Up to strengthen your research and grant-writing efforts!
DATE: Wednesday, Jan. 14
Time: 11 AM to NOON
Location: Faculty Lounge
Future Dates:
Wednesday, Feb. 11
Wednesday, March 11
Wednesday, April 8
Want to be added to the mailing list? Email Heather Campbell campbe88@canisius.edu.
As we navigate the winter weather Western New York is known for—and the unpredictability it brings—it may be helpful to revisit some alternative approaches to traditional pedagogy:
If needed, faculty can meet with students outside of the classroom with Microsoft Teams. Here are some of the tutorials we recommend watching for review:
For a more asynchronous resource, try recording a video with Panopto, our Canisius-branded video content management system similar to YouTube. However, unlike YouTube, videos on Panopto are only shared with your class and contain no ads. Additionally, to improve engagement with the video, faculty can add in-video quizzes to any Panopto video. Here are some tutorials:
Try Hypothes.is for a more interactive discussion. Hypothes.is is a social annotation tool that allows yourself and students to comment in the margins of the reading.
Other tutorials and resources can be found on the Hypothes.is Wiki Page or check outHypothes.is’s own resources, which shows the various ways other instructors have used Hypothes.is in their classrooms.
As an instructor for a First Day/Inclusive Access course, you will need to add the following Tool Link in D2L so that students can Opt-Out of the program if they wish, during the Opt-Out period only, and Courseware and eTextbook materials can be accessed by students through this link.
Setup for “Course Materials” Link
Steps
1. Log into D2L / Brightspace with your instructor username and password.
2. Navigate to the course that requires the Course Materials link.
3. Select Content from your navigation bar.
4. If adding the link to an existing Module, select it from your list.
5. To create a new module, type the module name in the “Add a module…” text box. You can name the module “Course Materials” or “Bookstore.” Then, hit Enter on your keyboard to create the new module.
6. In your module, click Add Existing Activities.
7. Select External Learning Tools.
8. From your list of external learning tools, select Course Materials.
9. The link will now be available to students from within the module.
As we navigate the winter weather Western New York is known for—and the unpredictability it brings—it may be helpful to revisit some alternative approaches to traditional pedagogy: