Minnesota State Colleges and Universities and Maverick Software Consulting Announce Innovative Partnership, Seek Corporate Partners

MINNEAPOLIS, Jan. 5, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Minnesota State Colleges and Universities (MnSCU) and Maverick Software Consulting have announced a first-of-its-kind partnership, bringing together top computer science students from campuses across the state with corporations seeking local software development and software testing. The program, developed and managed by Maverick, provides corporations with top student talent as a successful, proven option for cost-effective software development and testing services and an experienced workforce after graduation, while providing students real-world experience working in the field with cutting-edge technology – and typically a job offer prior to graduation.

The partnership currently encompasses four MnSCU universities, including Minnesota State University, Mankato; Metropolitan State University in Saint Paul and Minneapolis; St. Cloud State University and Winona State University. Advance IT Minnesota, a MnSCU center of excellence designed to help local economies thrive and position Minnesota for a strong future, is sponsoring the effort and assisting with recruiting additional corporate partners. Several IT companies in those communities are considering participating in the program, and the partners are actively seeking additional companies to participate. MnSCU, Advance IT Minnesota and Maverick have scheduled an open house on the campus of Minnesota State University, Mankato on Thursday, February 10, at 1 p.m., to provide more information and a first-hand look at the program to companies who may be in need of low-cost student talent.

The universities will help staff an office on or near each campus with qualified students. University faculty members also provide assistance in recruiting the top students to apply for Maverick job openings. The Minnesota State University, Mankato location has been open for business since 2006, providing software services to Eagan-based Thomson Reuters. The university's Information Systems and Technology Department staff has played an integral role in recruiting top students and constructing office space to house the current program, providing a proven, successful model for the new MnSCU partnership. Based on this model, each of the other three locations -- Minneapolis, St. Cloud and Winona -- can be opened and running within four to eight weeks with the commitment of a corporate partner. Additional MnSCU colleges will be added as the program continues to grow.

"This opportunity is a major win-win for both the students and companies who are seeking a proven, cost-effective alternative to off-shoring their software development and testing work," says Bruce Lindberg, executive director of Advance IT Minnesota. "It keeps IT jobs here in Minnesota, provides students with real-world experience and connects companies to the best of the best for their future workforce."

Maverick is gaining a national reputation as the first IT staff-augmentation company to develop a successful academia-meets-corporate America business model. The company provides low-cost, U.S.-based labor to major corporations by employing top computer-science students to develop and test software. Clients benefit by saving money on labor costs and tapping into a pool of the best IT talent, available for hire after graduation, and students gain valuable real-world experience.

"Through this innovative collaboration, we're in growth mode and now seeking additional corporate partners in need of local, cost-effective software development and software testing services," says Maverick president Marty Hebig, who, along with partner Chuck Sherwood, is a Minnesota State University, Mankato alum. "It's an opportunity for companies to augment their current staffs at globally competitive rates without having to invest in training. And we've been told that after graduation, Maverick students are productive an average of three to six months sooner in their jobs, saving corporations significant training time and costs."

Maverick Software Consulting also manages programs with students from the University of Minnesota – Twin Cities, the University of Wisconsin Madison and Iowa State University, but the MnSCU partnership is the first to actively involve educational institutions in all aspects of the program.

Maverick, MnSCU and Advance IT Minnesota are hosting an open house for IT leaders to experience the program, see the flagship office and meet current student participants in person on Thursday, February 10, 2011, from 1 to 3 p.m. at Minnesota State University, Mankato, in the Student Union Cooper Room. The tour and more information will also be available via webinar for those who cannot attend in person. For more information or to make a reservation for the tour, please visit www.MaverickSoftware.com, or contact Hebig at [email protected] or 651-398-8122.  

Minneapolis-based Maverick Software Consulting provides low-cost labor to large companies through its unique business model: employing Midwestern computer-science students to develop and test software. The company, which has offices close to four university campuses -- Minnesota State University, Mankato; the University of Minnesota – Twin Cities; the University of Wisconsin Madison; and Iowa State University -- has provided an innovative domestic alternative to overseas software-development outsourcing since 2006. For more information, visit www.MaverickSoftware.com.

The Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system comprises 32 state universities and community and technical colleges serving the higher education needs of Minnesota. The system serves about 277,000 students per year in credit-based courses and an additional 157,000 students in noncredit courses. Advance IT Minnesota engages learners, educators and information technology professionals to develop a more robust IT community in Minnesota.

SOURCE Maverick Software Consulting