Reflections on pathways to teaching, learning and curriculum community relationship building

•Supportive underlying relationships enhance educator/practice partnerships.•Experiential learning in accounting informs signature pedagogy development.•Historical experiences are applicable to Pathways Commission activities.•Community building promotes continuous improvement of local mission delivery.•Expanded definitions of community enhance relationship building.

Significant time and talent have been applied in recent years toward the enhancement of the quality of accounting education. The Pathways Commission has been visible in sponsoring the pursuit of a national strategy to guide future “higher education for the accounting profession.” Pathways reports to date cover diverse issue areas and assert the value of academic/practice partnering. Attention is placed also on the need to create a national implementation structure to assure the sustainability of future gains. This paper provides evidence derived from author experiences in developing past academic/practice partnering activities. These pursuits reflect the value of a focus on pathways to relationship building involving interactions by a variety of interested participants (stakeholders) for mutual benefit. Insights are shared on the development of multiple partnering vehicles. Experiences suggest the potential for transfer gains among local initiatives and extensions to national venues. Implications for possible national Pathways-related implementation are suggested.