Microsoft Becomes NDSU’s Newest Campus Community Partner

Microsoft’s desire to invest in a campus that will attract bright students led to the company becoming NDSU’s second Campus Community Partner after a history of cooperation with the company.

NDSU President Dean Bresciani and Microsoft Fargo Site Leader Don Morton announced the partnership and raised the NDSU and the Microsoft flags at a conference at NDSU’s flag pavilion on Oct. 12. The flag pavilion is located on the corner of 12th Avenue North and 18th Street on the west end of campus.

“The flags are raised together to signify the unity and cooperation between a great company and a great university,” Bresciani said.

NDSU and Microsoft have a history of cooperation.

Last summer Microsoft employees, who participated in the Microsoft Dynamics AX Fast TrAX Summer Institute pilot program, lived in the on-campus residence halls.

The training program was hosted by NDSU and was designed for young professional employees selling and servicing Microsoft products.

Microsoft also works closely with NDSU’s college of business and provides NDSU students with internship opportunities.

According to Morton, around 25 percent of Microsoft’s employees are NDSU graduates.

“We continue to invest in the Fargo campus because we can attract and hire highly motivated, bright people,” Morton said.

Since 2001, the NDSU campus has been home to the Microsoft Dynamics development center, providing research, development, IT support and other services.

Microsoft is now established as a Campus Community Partner in recognition of its collaboration with the university and the benefit it brings to the community.

“This is a way for a leading research university and a leading software development company to come together to make North Dakota an incredible place to live,” Bresciani said.

Sanford Health was the first Campus Community Partner and was recognized in April.