TSU receives $1M grant for software

By Don Mooradian, nashvillecitypaper.com

The Tennessee State University College of Business has received from Microsoft Business Solutions (MBS) a $1.1 million grant for software, training and support.

Not only is the university one of the nation’s first to use the new MBS Axapta software, it is the only school developing its entire business curriculum around the software, TSU officials said.

MBS is a Fargo N.D.-based business management and software development division of Redmond, Wash.-based Microsoft Corp., which is promoting Axapta as one of the most advanced business solutions products on the market.

TSU’s College of Business participates in the Microsoft Business Solutions Academic Alliance, with Tennessee State business professor Richard Banham having coordinated past efforts with Microsoft.

“We started out with Microsoft Business Solutions Great Plains software [more than three years ago],” Banham said. “And when MBS Axapta was introduced in the U.S., we recognized its potential to become an excellent tool to provide business training and to strengthen the business skills of our students.”

As a result of the grant, students will be able to use Axapta software, so-called “enterprise resource planning” (ERP) software, in TSU’s accounting, marketing and supply chain management courses.

Sharon Thach, a TSU marketing professor, said the software will allow the development of a new delivery system for TSU business courses, taken by about 1,400 students annually.

“One of the reasons Microsoft was intrigued is that they see this as a new model of business education,” she said.

Banham agreed, noting, “When fully integrated into our curriculum, the College of Business will be able to provide all its majors active learning experiences employing advanced tools in financial planning, customer relationship management, manufacturing resource planning and comprehensive supply chain management in a Web-enhanced ERP environment.”

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