Cincom Donates $750,000 in Software to the Ohio University College of Business

Cincom Systems, Inc. has donated $750,000 in software to the Ohio University College of Business as part of the university's Bicentennial Campaign. The donation includes six different software systems that will help undergraduate students apply business theory to real-life business situations.

College of Business Dean, Glenn Corlett, said, "We are delighted that Cincom shares our commitment to bringing real business experience into the classroom. With the software that Cincom has provided, we will be able to provide our students with the latest technology tools as they pursue real, everyday, integrated business solutions." Undergraduate students will earn hours by completing classes that integrate software programs, such as Cincom's Synchrony(TM) customer experience management suite.

Ohio University's business students are instructed to work in teams in related classes that solve problems for real companies. These combinations of classes are referred to as cluster classes and have proven to be extremely effective for students. "Undergraduate students in a cluster class begin viewing organizations as integrated systems based on all the knowledge they have accumulated during their degree program. It requires them to draw on the material from previous courses, and to think about organizations and their problems from a more holistic (CEO) perspective," reports a representative from the Ohio University College of Business. Most colleges do not require classes of this nature until the MBA level; however, the university is looking to give its students a head start and Cincom's software donation helps to provide that.

"Cincom considers our donation as an opportunity to invest in the future of the youth of America. Solving real-life business problems with advanced technology solutions will help these participating students to become more productive and more valuable in prospective employers' eyes. Plus, it may even trigger the entrepreneurial spirit in them and they'll be better able to start their own companies and become job creators instead of job seekers. These ideas are central to the great American dream, which provides liberty and opportunity for all, but demands responsibility to support liberty," says Cincom CEO, Tom Nies. And he should know about the entrepreneurial spirit. Mr. Nies started Cincom Systems in 1968 with $600 and a dream. Cincom has now generated more than $100 million in revenue for 19 straight years and serves thousands of clients on six continents. In 1984, President Ronald Reagan hailed Mr. Nies as the "epitome of the entrepreneurial spirit of America." Twenty years later Mr. Nies is still going strong, recently having been named the "Technology Entrepreneur of the Year," by Ernst and Young.

This donation is not a first for Cincom. Many other academic centers such as Northern Kentucky University (NKU) have also benefited from Cincom's donations. Cincom agrees with Ohio University Associate Dean and MIS Department Chair, John Day, when he said, "This gift will make a significant impact on the educational opportunities for our Management Information Systems program by giving our students access to state-of-the-art commercial software products." It is in this setting that Cincom wants students to learn in and eventually thrive from.

The Ohio University College of Business will begin using the Cincom software in the upcoming fall quarter.

The Bicentennial Campaign, which kicked off in November 2000 and concluded June 30, 2004, celebrated the University's 200th anniversary and is providing money to support students and faculty, technological enhancements, innovative programs and select capital improvements. The largest fund-raising effort in the history of the institution, the Campaign exceeded its $200 million goal, raising $221 million in support of the University.

About the Ohio University College of Business

The Ohio University College of Business provides a distinctive learning environment that actively engages students, faculty and the business community in developing knowledge and skills relevant for success in a complex, global economy.

This environment stimulates student learning and faculty research so that College of Business graduates are able to apply a holistic, integrated approach to business problems; apply the communication, leadership, team and technological skills needed to succeed in their business careers; understand how to work with people from other cultures and to operate effectively in other countries; and understand the social responsibilities of individuals and organizations and evaluate the ethical dimensions of decisions in a business context.

For more information, contact the university at: The Ohio University College of Business, Athens, OH 45701, call them at (740) 593-1000, or visit the Ohio University website at www.ohio.edu.

About Cincom

Cincom, the world's most experienced software company, builds, sells, and supports software for data access and integration, process automation, manufacturing business solutions, and business communications as well as IT and call center services outsourcing. High quality, rapid implementation, and excellent service give Cincom clients greater productivity, faster speed-to-market, and a quicker Return on Investment (ROI). Cincom serves thousands of clients on six continents including BMW, Citibank, Boeing, Northwestern Mutual, Federal Express, Ericsson, Penn State University, Messier-Dowty, Siemens, Rockwell Automation and Trane.