Cook Systems International Continues to Support UALR through the CollegeCareerCorps® Program
May 15, 2009 - Memphis, Tennessee
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Pictured from left to right: Ben Bryant, President of Cook Systems International; Dr. Russel Bruhn, Associate Dean of UALR's George W. Donaghey College of Engineering and Information Technology; Dr. Joel Anderson, Chancellor of UALR; and Kenneth Kinney, Vice President of Marketing, Cook Systems International. |
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Cook Systems International (cooksys.com) recently donated $4,000 to the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. The donation grew by over 800% from last year due to Cook Systems International's growing CollegeCareerCorps® (collegecareercorps.com) efforts in the Little Rock area.
The donation continues Cook Systems International's strong financial support to the George W. Donaghey College of Engineering and Information Technology at UALR. Now in its 3rd year in partnering with UALR, Cook Systems International is partnered with over 30 colleges and universities nationwide through CollegeCareerCorps® efforts.
"As a community partner, UALR takes seriously our role in meeting emerging needs of Arkansas. One area of critical need for our state is an increase in graduates prepared for careers in the highly technical, specialized workforce. Through partnership with Cook Systems International, UALR will prepare our engineering and information technology graduates to hit the ground running in high-paying technology career fields,” said Dr. Joel Anderson, Chancellor of UALR.
Corporate and government partners benefit with the CollegeCareerCorps® by receiving Cook Systems International’s unique expertise with the model, leading edge research services from colleges and universities, and the ability to partner with students and faculty to address critical business challenges. Services are delivered at globally competitive rates while developing a future workforce.
The CollegeCareerCorps® is a program that integrates students into professional technology teams in entry-level positions. The students join a team that includes experienced information technology professionals working on actual I.T. projects on a long-term basis unlike traditional internships. Cook Systems International has developed technical and certified management professionals using CollegeCareerCorps® project methodologies and procedures to ensure achieving the highest quality project results. Students typically work 20 hours per week and continue with the same client partner for up to two years.
“We at Cook Systems International are excited about continuing our CollegeCareerCorps® partnership with the University of Arkansas at Little Rock and the entire Arkansas area,” said Ben Bryant, President of Cook Systems International and Chairman of the CollegeCareerCorps®. “This has been a tremendous success in other regions of the country and we know it will continue to be here as well. In addition to providing I.T. students with real-life project experience, this model serves as a significant workforce development initiative and globally cost-effective alternative to off-shore outsourcing for the corporate and government partners who support this.”
Unlike traditional internship models, the student teams support real, long-term, operationally-budgeted activities. Under the guidance through the CollegeCareerCorps® program, the risk of using students is greatly reduced and ensures the success through Cook Systems International’s delivery accountability. Corporate and government partners further benefit by retaining the best and brightest students in the local area and by finding and managing students with fewer corporate resources.
"Cook Systems International is excited to continue our partnership and our financial support with UALR. The George W. Donaghey College of Engineering and Information Technology at UALR has done an excellent job of preparing students with the technical tools and experience needed," said Kenneth Kinney, Vice President of Cook Systems International. "In today's economy, real-world experience gained in the CollegeCareerCorps® gives corporations a real edge in attracting the community's top talent and also gives the students a true advantage in competing for highly sought after jobs."
About Cook Systems International, Inc.
Cook Systems International is an Information Technology Systems Integration firm headquartered in Memphis, Tennessee, providing information technology resources and solutions to customers throughout the United States. With a strong focus on the mid-west and southeast, Cook Systems International currently has active initiatives in Tennessee, Arkansas, Florida, Nebraska, Texas, Colorado, South Carolina, Georgia, Kentucky, and North Carolina with offices in Atlanta, Frankfort, and Colorado Springs.
Cook Systems International offers several types of services including: Program and Project Management, Professional Staffing, Managed Services, Outsourced Software Development and Maintenance Projects, Software Testing, Change Management and Business Process Consulting, and the CollegeCareerCorps®.
Cook Systems International is the number one rated vendor in the Memphis area having a proven track record of providing unsurpassed I.T. consulting services to Fortune 1000 companies, as well as state and local governments. Cook Systems International currently is a major provider of I.T. Professional Services to state governments and Fortune 1000 companies.
For more information please visit cooksys.com or collegecareercorps.com.
About the University of Arkansas at Little Rock
UALR is a metropolitan university on the move, a dynamic learning institution where students find unique learning and internship opportunities provided through one-of-a-kind connections to the state’s thriving capital city.
With more than 100 programs of study, UALR has an academic program to suit your interests – and an equal number of social and service organizations as well. UALR is:
- A public, metropolitan university with 12,000-plus full and part-time students.
- Six colleges and the Bowen School of Law that include more than 100 programs of study.
- Small classes with a 14 to 1 student-to-faculty ratio.
- Part of the University of Arkansas System since 1969.
- Students come from all over Arkansas, 43 other states, and 62 foreign countries.
- The tree-lined campus has 40 buildings on 150 acres – and is still growing!
- Specialized facilities include a learning resource center, art galleries, radio station, television station, Cyber Café, wireless network, and speech and hearing clinic.
- The library contains 400,000 volumes, 700,000 microform items, 8,300 audiovisual forms and CDs, subscribes to 2,625 periodicals, and its computerized services include card catalog, interlibrary loan, and database searching.
For more information please visit ualr.edu.
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