By Ann McBride
Arizona Daily Wildcat
Microsoft Corp.'s potential move to Tucson would benefit University of Arizona undergraduates more than computer science graduates, said Pete Downey, acting head of the Computer Science Department.
If recent reports that Microsoft will operate a technical support facility are correct, then those are "not the type of jobs these kids are looking for," Downey said.
Those positions Ÿ answering questions about Microsoft-related problems Ÿ typically do not require a baccalaureate degree, he said. Technical support supervisors would require a degree, he said, but obviously, there will be fewer of those positions available.
Microsoft's locating in Tucson would benefit undergraduates seeking part-time employment, Downey said, but the majority of computer science graduates are interested in applications and systems programming positions. He doesn't see Microsoft providing a "career path" for them.
Kristina Anastasova, management information systems senior, said that working for a company like Microsoft Ÿ a "huge word" Ÿ would be a good place to start even though the pay may be low.
But Chad Dupuis, a graduate student in educational psychology, said that besides being able to say that Microsoft is in Tucson, it's "useless."
He said that no one wants to answer Microsoft questions 24 hours a day, and that it would be better to have companies utilizing the space who are doing "real work."
Bill Ruggirello, program coordinator for employee relations in the UA Career Services Department, looks forward to an "enhanced" relationship with Microsoft, a company that already recruits UA students.
Company representatives will be at the UA Career Week, which is slated for the end of the month.
"We can only hope for more opportunities, more positions for both career-related type of work ... and perhaps more permanent positions for graduating seniors," Ruggirello said.
He sees an opportunity for students to participate in cooperative education (co-op) programs at the Tucson-based facility, which would make it possible for students to remain in school while fulfilling their co-op obligation.
Cooperative education is a national program that gives students hands-on business experience. Typically, students complete their co-op out of town, and often must take a semester off from school.
In the past, Microsoft has recruited students majoring in math, computer science and physics for co-op positions, Ruggirello said. He added that the UA, as a Research One institution, is a key recruitment base for the company, and that the location of the university is "very important" to industry's interest in locating in Tucson.
"Industry will seek the colleges or universities that can supply the future workers that they need," he said.
In today's tight job market, Ruggirello said he encourages students to consider entry-level positions such as computer customer support staff, and that the "sky is the limit" in regards to advancement. He said this may be true especially for students who want to remain in the Tucson area.
Graduating seniors must register with career services in order to take advantage of the on-campus recruitment opportunities, Ruggirello said.
Registration runs through Sept. 20. Career services is located in the basement of Old Main.