United Negro College Fund Announces Multi-Million Dollar Education Partnership With Oracle

The College Fund (UNCF)
Wednesday, 13 March 2002

Four-Part $10 Million Grant Will Support Faculty Training, Student Technology Education and Career Advancement

The United Negro College Fund and Oracle Corp. today announced an education grant valued at $10 million, in which Oracle will provide a cash donation, scholarships, internships, curriculum, training, certification and technology resources to the UNCF and its 39 member institutions. The grant, announced at a reception today on Capital Hill hosted by Eddie Bernice Johnson, Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC), will give participating colleges and universities access to advanced teaching and learning methods and cutting edge technology within degree programs.

The grant is part of a Technology Enhancement Capital Campaign that was launched by the UNCF to strengthen the technology capacities of the UNCF member institutions by bolstering software, hardware, technical support, training and faculty development.

"This exciting partnership with Oracle will expand career opportunities for information technology majors and minors at UNCF colleges, and will increase the pool of professionals who are trained and certified on the world's leading database, giving them a competitive edge in the workforce," said William H. Gray III, president and CEO of UNCF. "We are extremely appreciative of Oracle's support and commitment to expanding educational opportunities for deserving young men and women."

The Oracle Academic Initiative grant will equip students and faculty at UNCF member institutions with the tools that will help cultivate IT skills necessary for success in today's highly competitive technology driven economy. The grant encompasses the following:

- A grant to provide teacher training, technology support, and curriculum for UNCF member colleges and universities. Thirty faculty members and as many as 675 students will receive training in preparation for obtaining certification in database administration.

- A UNCF/Oracle Corporate scholarship and internship program enabling students from historically black colleges and universities to gain valuable experience across multiple disciplines with one of the world's leading technology companies. Each of the internships will include a need-based scholarship, summer salary and a housing allowance.

- A cash grant to the UNCF for technology enhancements across member campuses.

- A donation of Oracle database software to upgrade the UNCF's Donor Management System.

"Oracle is delighted to partner with UNCF to improve the quality of technology education and increase opportunity for all students to actively participate in the growing information economy," said Larry Ellison, chairman and CEO, Oracle Corp. "The Oracle, UNCF partnership will benefit both faculty and students by giving them every advantage to use the most up-to-date technology and training in the world."

The Oracle grant also comes in response to a Congressional Black Caucus technology roundtable held last June, in which the CBC called on the high-tech industry to build new educational partnerships with historically black colleges and universities.

"I am extremely pleased that Oracle has taken the lead, and stepped up to the CBC's challenge to the high-tech community, in establishing this new initiative with our Historically Black Colleges and Universities and the UNCF," said CBC Chairwoman Johnson. "I want to commend Oracle and its CEO, Larry Ellison, for making this needed investment in not only these colleges and universities, but in our most precious resource, our young people who attend these institutions."

About UNCF

Founded in 1944, the United Negro College Fund is the nation's oldest and most successful minority higher education assistance organization. UNCF has raised nearly $1.8 billion to support its 39 member institutions and has helped more than 300,000 students earn undergraduate and graduate degrees. Currently, UNCF administers more than 450 programs, including scholarship programs, mentoring, summer enrichment, curriculum and faculty development and leadership development. (www.UNCF.org)

About Oracle

Oracle is the world's largest enterprise software company. For more information about Oracle visit our website at www.oracle.com.

For more information, or to contact The College Fund (UNCF), see their website at: www.uncf.org