Buffalo, NY - 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.”
Four students have been selected for the inaugural AUDIT Lab cohort from about 20 applicants. Participants were chosen based on academic performance and research aptitude. They will be mentored and advised under a collaborative leadership structure, with Redpath serving as lab chair and Banach providing strategic oversight and institutional support.
Alumni and community members interested in supporting the Canisius University AUDIT Lab or presenting real-world business problems for students to address through research should contact Ian Redpath, JD, LLM, at @email or at 716-888-2868.
The Aletheia Research Institution is an organization dedicated to cultivating unbiased social science research and reliable intelligence for public policy and business decisions. Experienced researchers collaborate with organizations to evaluate public policy outcomes, markets and behavioral questions of interest.
The Wehle Business School at Canisius University develops career-ready business leaders prepared to make ethical decisions that reflect the interests of multiple stakeholders. Through partnerships with businesses in the Western New York community, the school emphasizes immersive, experience-based learning that reflects the interconnected and global nature of business.
Canisius was founded in 1870 in Buffalo, NY, and is one of 27 Jesuit colleges and universities in the U.S. Consistently ranked among the top institutions in the Northeast, Canisius offers undergraduate, graduate and pre-professional programs distinguished by close student-faculty collaboration, mentoring and an emphasis on ethical, purpose-driven leadership.
