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College of Computing and Informatics Announces New Partnership

CCI strives to place its students in the region’s IT workforce

Charlotte, N.C. – Nov. 1, 2007 – The College of Computing and Informatics (CCI) at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte has announced a new partnership with Cook Systems International, Inc.. Cook Systems International will work with CCI to help bolster the area IT workforce by strategically placing CCI students in real-life work situations.

“One of the goals of the College of Computing and Informatics is to help find employment for our highly-qualified students,” said Mirsad Hadzikadic, Ph.D., Dean of the College of Computing and Informatics. “Placing our students in the local IT workforce not only enhances their career opportunities following graduation but it also allows us as a college to learn from these experiences and to structure our curriculum in a way that better prepares our students for the ever-changing world of IT.”

COLLEGECAREERCORPS is a program that integrates students into professional work environments within local businesses. The students join a team of experienced information technology professionals to work on actual IT projects on a long-term basis.

As part of its partnership with CCI, Cook Systems International will actively identify corporate and government partners that can benefit from this program. And, because partners contract directly with Cook Systems International, projects don’t have to begin and end during a single semester like a traditional internship.

“We at Cook Systems International are excited about introducing our COLLEGECAREERCORPS model to the College of Computing and Informatics at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte and the Charlotte Metro area,” said Ben Bryant, President of Cook Systems International. “This has been a tremendous success in other regions of the country and we know it will be here as well."

About the College of Computing and Informatics
The College of Computing and Informatics provides academic programs in computer science, software and information systems, information technology, and bioinformatics. It is also the home to leading research centers and institutes, including the Bioinformatics Research Center, the Charlotte Visualization Center, the Diversity in Information Technology Institute, the Information Security and Assurance Center, the eBusiness Technology Institute, and the Software Solutions Lab.

About Cook Systems International, Inc.

Cook Systems International is a well-established firm headquartered in Memphis, Tennessee with over 225 employees and consultants providing information technology resources and solutions to customers throughout the United States. With a strong focus on the Midwest 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 Charlotte, Atlanta, Frankfort, Jacksonville, and Colorado Springs.

For more information please visit www.cooksys.com or www.collegecareercorps.com.

About UNC Charlotte

A public research university, UNC Charlotte is the fourth largest campus among the 17 institutions of the University of North Carolina system. It is the largest institution of higher education in the Charlotte region. The university offers 18 doctoral programs, 61 master’s degree programs and 89 programs leading to bachelor’s degrees. Fall 2007 enrollment exceeds 22,300 students, including almost 4,800 graduate students.