Oracle and UNCF are Building the Future With the Scholars of Today
Oracle grant helps historically black colleges and universities bridge the digital divide

Technology is no longer the wave of the future, posits the United Negro College Fund, it is the way of the present. And every student who lacks access to current technology risks falling further behind.

It's a fact that the digital divide in higher education is greater than the gap among the nation's households. Only 15 percent of students at United Negro College Fund institutions own a computer, compared with 55 percent of college students nationally. A hard fact indeed, but one that Oracle Corporation is working to help chip away.

Founded in 1944, The United Negro College Fund is the nation's oldest and most successful minority higher education assistance organization. UNCF has raised $2 billion to support its 39 member institutions and has helped more than 300,000 students earn undergraduate and graduate degrees.

In March of 2002, Oracle announced an education grant that will provide cash, curriculum, teacher training, certification and technology resources to the United Negro College Fund (UNCF) and its 39 member institutions. The grant is a response to the Technology Enhancement Capital Campaign, launched by the UNCF to give historically black colleges and universities access to advanced teaching and learning methods, and cutting edge technology within degree programs.

Oracle's grant also funds a scholarship and internship program that helps students gain actual work experience across multiple disciplines. Kimberly Jones, a computer information systems major entering her senior year at Grambling State University, secured an eight week internship with Oracle University with the help of the Oracle grant. Jones quickly became adept at SQL, an important programing language crucial to using an enterprise database. She also had the opportunity to create the kind of business reports and technical documentation common in today's technology driven business world.

"The eight short weeks I spent at Oracle helped me get a better feel for what I really enjoy doing and what I need to work on to reach my goals in the future," said Jones. "The technical training gained, and the project management and people skills learned are all beneficial to me in so many ways. I honestly feel that no other internship program could have offered me as much as this Oracle internship did."

Oracle remains committed to working with the United Negro College Fund to offer member college and university students an internship opportunity to gain valuable real-world experience and scholarships that provide financial support in a 8-week intensive program. "This exciting partnership with Oracle will expand career opportunities for IT majors and minors at UNCF colleges," said William H. Gray III, president of UCNF. "We are extremely appreciative of Oracle's support and commitment to expanding educational opportunities for deserving young men and women."