National Investor Relations Institute and UC Irvine Extension Present First and Only Online Program in Investor Relations; NIRI Partners with UC Irvine Extension to Develop Investor Program

Business Wire, June 17, 2005

IRVINE, Calif. -- The National Investor Relations Institute announces today the first and only investor relations certificate program that can be completed entirely online. Developed in collaboration with the University of California Irvine Extension, the program is designed for both entry-level and experienced corporate professionals who want to expand their expertise and understand the impact and role of investor relations within public companies. Summer quarter courses begin on June 20.

The UC Irvine Extension's investor relations curriculum was developed in partnership with NIRI. Coursework focuses on NIRI's Body of Knowledge and covers the critical competency areas of Capital Markets, the Investment Process, the Corporate Environment, the Practice of Investor Relations and Web Communication.

"The importance of hiring trained, effective investor relations professionals has never been more valued or recognized by senior officers in public companies," said Lori Munoz-Reiland, Director of Business, Management, Legal and Information Technology at UC Irvine Extension. "With heightened emphasis on regulation and accounting standards, this high profile position plays a critical role in how companies are perceived by shareholders, the financial community and the public."

In this e-learning program, students will:

--Learn how to structure and implement a strategic investor relations program.

--Develop the skills to draft and disseminate appropriate information to the investing community, from effective annual reports to crisis communications management.

--Gain financial acumen to effectively support complete valuation of the company by the market.

Understand the investor relation professional's role in corporate governance and learn how to provide support to new board members. The investor relations program is designed at a post-baccalaureate level, and the only prerequisite is a basic financial accounting class. To receive certification, students must complete a total of seven courses, including six required and one elective.

For more information about the investor relations certificate program, please contact Lori Munoz-Reiland at 949-824-2282 or Lori.Munoz-Reiland@unx.uci.edu. Special pricing and discounts are available for NIRI members. For more information on courses and details, visit www.extension.uci.edu.

As the continuing education arm of a prestigious university, UC Irvine Extension is dedicated to providing a transforming learning experience for students, offering thousands of exciting courses and programs to local, regional and global constituencies. UC Irvine Extension offers a rich array of academic and personal development programs to support a diverse audience from a wide selection of academic programs to numerous campus events and activities. UC Irvine Extension continues to provide a university-level learning experience to all students.

NIRI is the professional association of corporate officers and investor relations consultants responsible for communications among corporate management, shareholders, security analysts and other financial publics. NIRI's 4,300 members represent over 2,100 publicly held companies in the United States. For more information visit www.niri.org.