As part of its efforts to continually improve communications with members, the AICPA is both increasing the frequency of the CPA Letter and taking advantage of new technologies to make the newsletter’s entire text available online. After the planned summer issue that combines the months of July and August, the newsletter will be published each month of the year.

Since its inception many years ago, the online edition of the CPA Letter had been an abridged version of the printed newsletter (many articles were not included to facilitate reading), with links to the member-segment supplements and other Web sites. Recent advances in technology mean the CPA Letter now can be posted in its entirety in an easy-to-read, easy-to-print PDF format that also includes these necessary links. All 12 issues per year will be housed on www.aicpa.org .

These improvements will enable members to obtain the newsletter as much as two weeks earlier than their print copies—making the information more timely. In addition, by increasing the frequency of publication to 12 issues a year from 10, it also will be providing important information each and every month. In sum, the AICPA is significantly enhancing the frequency of the newsletter and its speed of delivery.

At the same time, the number of print issues each year will be reduced to 6 from 10 to save considerable costs related to printing and postage. The first electronic-only issue will be the May 2003 issue of the newsletter. For more details on these improvements, see the April CPA Letter.

Jay C. Thibodeau, Ulric J. Gelinas and Elliott S. Levy, professors at Bentley College in Waltham, Massachusetts, won the American Accounting Association’s first Innovation in Auditing Assurance Education Award, which recognized them for developing a case study that introduced students to computer-assisted auditing techniques.

Members interested in serving on an AICPA committee or expert or tax resource panel now have until May 1 to submit an application, which they can do online at http://volunteers.aicpa.org/apply . Additional information can be requested by sending an e-mail to committee@aicpa.org or by calling David Ray at 212-596-6030.

Version 1.0 of the trust services principles and criteria framework, which encompasses the WebTrust and SysTrust services, now is included in the loose-leaf edition of the AICPA’s Technical Practice Aids (product code G80101JA) and will become part of the paperback edition (product code 005142JA) in June. Both versions are available from the AICPA at 888-777-7077. The framework will be effective for engagements beginning April 1, and its use is encouraged for earlier engagements.”