Xerox Gift to Benefit MBA Program In UB School of Management

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- Citing the strong bonds that have been formed with the University at Buffalo, the Xerox Foundation has presented a gift of $25,000 to the UB School of Management for the creation of an innovative education and training program. The gift brings Xerox's giving to UB during the past year to more than $122,000.

The $25,000 will fund the Xerox Partnership for Recruiting Excellence. The program will attract gifted students to UB's MBA program and position them for jobs at Xerox following graduation.

"Gifts such as these give us the flexibility to try new ways of educating students and enhancing their overall academic experience," said John Thomas, interim dean of the School of Management. "I thank Xerox for its commitment to higher education by providing the support that will let us be innovative and creative on behalf of our students."

The gift is aligned with the goals of a five-year memorandum of understanding creating a partnership between the university and The Document Company, Xerox. Under the partnership, the two collaborate in areas including research, information technology, and education and training.

"The relationship between Xerox and the university has been outstanding," said Michael MacDonald, Xerox senior vice president. "President William Greiner has proven that the university and the state's major corporations can work together to everyone's benefit. Whether in research, education or student services, the university is living up to its reputation as a leader."

Since December 1996, Xerox's gifts to UB have included $10,000 to the Department of Computer Science, $10,000 to the Center of Excellence for Document Analysis and Recognition (CEDAR), $50,000 in consulting services to the School of Management, $4,500 for minority recruitment in the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, and $22,816 in supplies and services to the Division of Athletics. Employees of the corporation also made gifts to the university that were matched by Xerox for a total of $1,270.

During the past five years, the company and foundation have provided nearly $211,000 in gifts and services to departments and programs throughout the university. Xerox also is one of nine national companies participating in the School of Management's "Adopt-a-Course" program. Company executives give classroom and on-site presentations about the translation of classroom theory into everyday business realities. This relationship may expand with funding for a proposed internship program that is under discussion.

Xerox is an $18 billion global enterprise with nearly 90,000 employees, 18,000 of whom are employed in New York State.

For information on how you can help support the University at Buffalo, go to http://www.buffalo.edu/giving.