Acxiom Corporation® has pledged $150,000 to the University of Central Arkansas to establish the “Acxiom Professors of MIS.” The gift will support five faculty members within the Department of Management Information Systems over the next four years.
The gift was announced Tuesday during a press conference at the UCA College of Business.
“We sincerely appreciate this gift from Acxiom. This is just another example of Acxiom’s continued involvement in and generosity to UCA, but more importantly, to its commitment to the education of our students and faculty, and the overall improvement of Arkansas’s economy,” said UCA President Tom Courtway. “These funds will enable us to recruit and retain the highest quality faculty in the Management Information System program and provide our state with tomorrow’s leaders in the field.”
The department plans to use up to $37,500 per year to fulfill needs of faculty who work in close partnership with Acxiom. The funds can be used for research support, technology needs, conference travel, or any approved needs that further the department.
“When smart, creative people come together to share diverse perspectives and brainstorm possibilities, amazing ideas often emerge,” said Jena Compton, Acxiom vice president for Human Relations. “This partnership with UCA has been truly collaborative and beneficial for both parties.”
Professors selected for the program are Dr. Ron McGaughey, Dr. Summer Bartczak, Dr. Ken Griffin, Dr. Jim Downey, and Dr. Kaye McKinzie.
Dr. McGaughey founded the Acxiom/IT Careers Camp that encourages bright Arkansas high school students to select a path of study in IT or MIS fields. Dr. Bartczak and Dr. Downey currently oversee the program. Dr. McKinzie has partnered with Acxiom in working on a project management course and business analytics. Dr. Griffin has been involved on the administrative aspect of all of these initiatives.
Several of the faculty members are working on the Acxiom Task Force that has resulted in MIS curriculum redesign and alignment targeted to develop skill sets in graduates that meet the technology jobs market need, including Acxiom’s.
Between August 2011 and September 2012, UCA provided 34 interns and 18 full-time hires for Acxiom. Twenty-four interns transitioned to a full-time role.
“We appreciate Acxiom’s willingness to partner with the College of Business and invest in the future of the MIS department. Corporate sponsorships are increasingly important in the current academic environment,” said Dr. Mike Casey, interim dean of the College of Business. “Acxiom’s investment validates the faculty efforts to remain current in their fields and will serve as a model for corporate partnerships in other disciplines. We are fortunate to have a high-caliber employer of our business students here in Conway. Their investment will provide resources that ensure we are able to continue producing graduates in high demand by Acxiom.”
Dr. Ken Griffin, chair of the Department of Management Information Systems, said the gift has energized the faculty as all their volunteer efforts have been recognized as beneficial to Acxiom, UCA and the students.
“Acxiom’s generosity will allow for professional development of the faculty in areas that will benefit our stakeholders,” he said. “The gift cements a continuing relationship with Acxiom that will refine and improve the quality of our MIS curriculum and will benefit both their company and our graduates.”
Acxiom is a registered trademark of Acxiom Corporation.
