The AICPA announced on Tuesday the launch of a free, multi-part webcast series focusing on the recruiting, retention, and advancement of diverse talent in the accounting profession, hosted by the Institute's National Commission on Diversity and Inclusion.

The sessions, which offer one hour of Continuing Professional Education (CPE) credit each, will begin with a webcast on how to best attract and recruit diverse candidates based on cultural norms, and will look to give viewers a better understanding on how to form diversity recruiting strategies and how to best measure their success.

The webcast series comes on the heels of recent U.S. Census data that found that minority-owned businesses increased receipts to $1.4 trillion between 2007 and 2012. U.S. Census data also predicts that over 50 percent of Americans will belong to a minority group by 2044.

The three sessions, spread over three months, are as follows:

Session 1 - Workforce Diversity: Attracting and Recruiting Diverse Talent

Date: Thursday, Feb. 16, 2017, 1-2 PM EST
Presenter: CTR Factor
Event registration

Session 2 - Workforce Diversity: Retaining and Advancing Diverse Talent

Date: Thursday, March 16, 2017, 1-2 PM EST
Presenter: CTR Factor
Event registration

Session 3 - How to Effectively Coach, Mentor and Sponsor Diverse Talent

Date: Wednesday, April 19, 2017, 1 - 2 PM EST
Presenter: Trudy Bourgeois
Event registration

For more on the National Commission on Diversity and Inclusion, head to the AICPA's site here.

Sean McCabe is a senior editor with Accounting Today.