The Baltimore CFA Society recently awarded Loyola College’s Department of Finance with a full set of the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) Curriculum Prep Materials. This first-ever award by the society recognizes the department’s reputation for excellence in preparing the region’s future finance professionals.

The Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) is a professional designation offered by the CFA Institute to finance professionals who complete a series of three examinations that require an extensive knowledge of the investments area of finance CFA charterholders are also obliged to adhere to a strict Code of Ethics and Standards governing their professional conduct. The combined first time pass rate for the series of three examinations is 55 percent.

“Increasingly, we are finding that students are interested in pursuing the CFA designation. The designation carries international recognition and prestige and students are interested in distinguishing themselves. Having the curriculum prep materials in-house will allow Loyola faculty to integrate more of the exam series topics into our investments-related courses,” explains Lisa Fairchild, Professor and Chair of the Department of Finance. “The materials will also be available to our students who are studying for the exam.”

The CFA Institute requires a bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) or four years of work experience in the investments industry to be able to take the exams. However, undergraduate students can begin the series of exams during their senior year. To encourage students to pursue this prestigious professional certification, the Department of Finance began a CFA Mentoring Program in 1999. Each year, Loyola’s CFA Mentoring Program awards 10 scholarships to undergraduate and graduate students planning to take the first exam in the series. The CFA Mentoring Program is led by Dr. Kenneth Small and Dr. Thomas Ulrich, both of whom are CFA Charterholders.

The CFA Curriculum Prep Materials are available to all Loyola students and faculty and may be accessed by contacting Rosemarie Durkin in the Department of Finance on 410.617.2818. Additional information about the CFA exam series is available at www.cfainstitute.org.