Microsoft Encourages and Celebrates its Diverse Workforce

Since its inception in 1975, Microsoft's mission has been to create software for the personal computer that empowers and enriches people in the workplace, at school and at home. Microsoft's early vision of a computer on every desk and in every home is coupled today with a strong commitment to Internet-related technologies that expand the power and reach of the PC and its users. As the world's leading software provider, Microsoft strives to produce innovative products that meet customers' evolving needs. At the same time, the company understands that long-term success is about more than just making great products. Microsoft makes a commitment to what it calls "Living Our Values."

Equal Time

As Microsoft's workforce evolves to reflect the growing diversity of its communities and global marketplace, its efforts to understand, value, and incorporate differences become increasingly important. Microsoft is committed to promoting diversity within the organization and to demonstrate this commitment in communities nationwide. They do this a number of ways: through Employee Groups at Microsoft, diversity events and activities, and an employee diversity publication, Microsoft Pathways. For more information, visit the Diversity Web site at www.microsoft.com/jobs/diversity.htm. Also, for a glimpse at life on the Microsoft campus and in the Pacific Northwest, visit the On Campus and Northwest Culture links within this site.

Microsoft believes that diversity enriches its performance and products, the communities in which its people live and work, and the lives of its employees. As their workforce evolves to reflect the growing diversity of its communities and global marketplace, Microsoft's efforts to understand, value and incorporate differences become increasingly important. Microsoft has established a number of initiatives to promote diversity within our own organization, and to demonstrate this commitment in communities nationwide.

Microsoft Employee Wins National Diversity Award

In 1998, Marissa Martinez was honored with a diversity award at the Hispanic Engineer National Achievement Awards Conference (HENAAC). The annual career conference honors the best and brightest Hispanic engineers and scientists in the United States.

Microsoft Grant to Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities

Microsoft's recent gift to the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities helps address the limited technical resources available to Hispanic students. Just last summer, Microsoft founder and CEO Bill Gates announced that his foundation will donate $20 billion over the next 20 years, specifically for scholarships to Hispanic and black college students.

Grant Addresses Limited Technology Resources at Hispanic Colleges and Universities

The Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU) recently announced that it will strengthen its role as an advocate for Hispanic-Serving Institutions (H-SIs) using a $32,000 technology operating grant from the Microsoft Corporation. In addition, Microsoft has donated $1 million worth of software to four HACU member colleges and universities to be used in computer labs and classrooms in both undergraduate and graduate programs. HACU will use the cash grant to build an information-technology

infrastructure for its headquarters in San Antonio, Texas. With up-to-date technology resources, the organization will be better able to fulfill its mission of increasing access to educational opportunity for Hispanics, promoting the development of the over 200 HACU member institutions, and sharing resources, information and expertise with business, industry and government.

"Recent studies have pointed out that Hispanic communities and Hispanic-Serving Institutions have limited access to information technology resources." said Antonio R. Flores, president of HACU. "With the grants from Microsoft, HACU and our member colleges can begin to break that cycle of technological disadvantage and empower students with the computer technology they want and need." The $1 million software grant will address the information technology curriculum needs of more than 1,500 students and faculty at four Hispanic-Serving Institutions:

• St. Mary's University in San Antonio, Texas
• New Mexico Highlands University in Las Vegas and New Mexico
• California State University in Los Angeles, California
• Herbert H. Lehman College in Bronx, New York

The software grants, administered through HACU, will be used to upgrade PC and engineering labs, add specific technology subjects to undergraduate and graduate curricula, and enhance course offerings and research capabilities for computer science, engineering, MIS and other majors. "HACU plays an extremely important role in the Hispanic and higher education committees," said Barbara Dingfield, Director of Community Affairs at Microsoft. "Microsoft strongly supports is commitment to making information technology resources available to Hispanic students, and we look forward to working with HACU and its over 200 member institutions to make sure these grants meet their technology needs."

Established in 1986, HACU is a national association of higher education representing more than 160 Hispanic-Serving Institutions nationwide where Hispanics constitute a minimum 25 percent of the total enrollment at either the graduate or undergraduate level. HACU member institutions are located in 14 states, Puerto Rico and abroad. HACU also represents associate members, which are institutions with at least 1,000 Hispanic students enrolled.

Diversity Training at Microsoft

Microsoft currently offers two highly interactive training programs. The Diversity Awareness program is an introduction to diversity. This program focuses on the ability to limit the influence of stereotypes, identify elements that make each participant a diverse person, and sharing communication strategies that help participants in a diverse environment.

The Business of Diversity program serves as a sequel to the Awareness program. While the Awareness program focuses on the individual aspects of diversity, the Business program links directly to Microsoft's business and provides real-life situations, challenges, and solutions.

Both programs seek to maximize the performance of every employee, enhance Microsoft's ability to attract, develop, and keep the best and brightest talent. And the ability to expand and reach new markets to achieve the vision of a computer on every desk and in every home running Microsoft software.

Send resumes to: Microsoft, Human Resources, 1 Microsoft Way, Redmond, WA 98052