"For immediate release
Microsoft Corp. will award $440,000 in cash grants and provide more than $1 million in computer software to help close the computer technology gap for minority students at college campuses in seven states. More than 150,000 Hispanic and African-American students at 11 campuses, including five that are members of the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU), will benefit from the awards announced at the Redmond, Washington, headquarters of the global computer software giant.
“Technology access continues to be very limited for Hispanics, and this generous funding from Microsoft will help these universities provide top-of-the-line software to students,” HACU President Antonio Flores said from HACU national headquarters in San Antonio, Texas. “Equal access to technology will help level the playing field for Hispanics in communities around the country.”
The awards were made to 11 campuses formally designated as either Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs) or Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) because of high minority student enrollment rates. HACU and The College Fund/UNCF, in coordination with Microsoft, selected the grant recipients The new grants represent the latest in the company’s long-standing effort to bridge what’s been called the “digital divide” between minority and non-minority populations in this country. According to a recent U.S. Commerce Department report, “Falling Through the Net: Defining the Digital Divide,” computer ownership rates for white non-Hispanic households are roughly twice that for Hispanic and African-American households.
“Technology proficiency is an essential element of success today,” said Bruce Brooks, Microsoft’s director of community affairs. “By coordinating efforts with these African-American and Hispanic-serving institutions, we can help ensure that students of color have equal access to the resources they need to accomplish great things in today’s social and economic marketplace.”
“Microsoft’s continued support for UNCF and other organizations assisting communities of color will help close this technology gap and empower students across the country to achieve their educational and personal goals,” said William H. Gray III, president and CEO of The College Fund/UNCF.
Each campus will be awarded a $40,000 cash grant, in addition to computer software, which will provide students with benefits such as enhanced information technology courses, new or expanded distance learning opportunities and improved access to the Internet.
HACU member HSIs that will receive funding are: Barry University in Miami Shores, Florida; New Mexico Highlands University in Las Vegas, New Mexico; St. Mary’s University in San Antonio; Texas A&M University at Kingsville in Kingsville, Texas, and University of Texas-Pan American in Edinburg, Texas.
HSIs have a Hispanic student enrollment rate of at least 25 percent. HBCUs that will receive funding are: Huston-Tillotson College in Austin, Texas; Johnson C. Smith University in Charlotte, North Carolina; Oakwood College in Huntsville, Alabama; Paine College in Augusta, Georgia; Prairie View A&M University in Prairie View, Texas, and Tennessee State University in Nashville.
Microsoft has become a leader in efforts to help bridge the U.S. digital divide. In the past three years alone, Microsoft has provided thousands of organizations, including HACU, a total of more than $173 million in cash and computer software to provide technology access to underserved communities.
HACU represents more than 230 colleges and universities with high Hispanic student enrollment rates in the United States, Puerto Rico and abroad.
For more information, contact HACU Director Communications, Janie Valenzuela at (210) 692-3805, ext. 42. "
Microsoft Corp. will award $440,000 in cash grants and provide more than $1 million in computer software to help close the computer technology gap for minority students at college campuses in seven states. More than 150,000 Hispanic and African-American students at 11 campuses, including five that are members of the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU), will benefit from the awards announced at the Redmond, Washington, headquarters of the global computer software giant.
“Technology access continues to be very limited for Hispanics, and this generous funding from Microsoft will help these universities provide top-of-the-line software to students,” HACU President Antonio Flores said from HACU national headquarters in San Antonio, Texas. “Equal access to technology will help level the playing field for Hispanics in communities around the country.”
The awards were made to 11 campuses formally designated as either Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs) or Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) because of high minority student enrollment rates. HACU and The College Fund/UNCF, in coordination with Microsoft, selected the grant recipients The new grants represent the latest in the company’s long-standing effort to bridge what’s been called the “digital divide” between minority and non-minority populations in this country. According to a recent U.S. Commerce Department report, “Falling Through the Net: Defining the Digital Divide,” computer ownership rates for white non-Hispanic households are roughly twice that for Hispanic and African-American households.
“Technology proficiency is an essential element of success today,” said Bruce Brooks, Microsoft’s director of community affairs. “By coordinating efforts with these African-American and Hispanic-serving institutions, we can help ensure that students of color have equal access to the resources they need to accomplish great things in today’s social and economic marketplace.”
“Microsoft’s continued support for UNCF and other organizations assisting communities of color will help close this technology gap and empower students across the country to achieve their educational and personal goals,” said William H. Gray III, president and CEO of The College Fund/UNCF.
Each campus will be awarded a $40,000 cash grant, in addition to computer software, which will provide students with benefits such as enhanced information technology courses, new or expanded distance learning opportunities and improved access to the Internet.
HACU member HSIs that will receive funding are: Barry University in Miami Shores, Florida; New Mexico Highlands University in Las Vegas, New Mexico; St. Mary’s University in San Antonio; Texas A&M University at Kingsville in Kingsville, Texas, and University of Texas-Pan American in Edinburg, Texas.
HSIs have a Hispanic student enrollment rate of at least 25 percent. HBCUs that will receive funding are: Huston-Tillotson College in Austin, Texas; Johnson C. Smith University in Charlotte, North Carolina; Oakwood College in Huntsville, Alabama; Paine College in Augusta, Georgia; Prairie View A&M University in Prairie View, Texas, and Tennessee State University in Nashville.
Microsoft has become a leader in efforts to help bridge the U.S. digital divide. In the past three years alone, Microsoft has provided thousands of organizations, including HACU, a total of more than $173 million in cash and computer software to provide technology access to underserved communities.
HACU represents more than 230 colleges and universities with high Hispanic student enrollment rates in the United States, Puerto Rico and abroad.
For more information, contact HACU Director Communications, Janie Valenzuela at (210) 692-3805, ext. 42. "