AUSTIN, Texas – (February 19, 2002)–The Austin Software Council (ASC) today announced an alliance with St. Edward's University. The alliance will allow ASC to expand its workforce training and education programs, known as ASC-University (ASC-U) seminars, with support from St. Edward's University.

"Our new relationship with St. Edward's University will enrich our ASC-U course offering and extend a more valuable program to local business leaders," said Paul Toprac, executive director of the Austin Software Council. "It is refreshing to join forces with a group as dynamic as St. Edward's University, this relationship has a huge potential to create a stable infrastructure for stronger programs and delivery for ASC members and ASC-U participants."

St. Edward's will provide ASC with marketing, course development, event management and financial services to enhance the ASC-U courses and seminars, which cover areas such as leadership, finance, development, legal, marketing, and human resources targeted for information technology (IT)
involved companies. These seminars are attended by executives and other business professionals from start-ups to Fortune 500 companies.

"This alliance is a natural extension of the university's long-term commitment to provide resources for working professionals and adult learners," said John Houghton, vice president for the College of
Professional and Graduate Studies at St. Edward's University. "The relationship with the Austin Software Council is an outstanding example of how St. Edward's is uniquely positioned to react to the needs of both the business community and working professional."

The relationship will kick-off with the "Foundations for Growth Conference", which will be held on February 28, in the Commons at J.J. Pickle Center, University of Texas. Brian Smith, chairman and co-founder of Crossroads will keynote the event and the remainder of the conference will focus on helping companies thrive in 2002. The "Foundations for Growth Conference" will feature special tracks on strategies for "Raising Funding", "Generating Revenue" and "Driving to Profitability". Each track will focus on the process and relationship necessary to be successful. The event is sponsored by PricewaterhouseCoopers, CEO Partnerships, Vinson & Elkins, Lifecycle Marketing, Commercial Texas and Sigma Information Group.

About the Austin Software Council
The Austin Software Council (ASC) offers education, networking and business services to the Central Texas technology community. The organization was formed in 1992 as part of The University of Texas. In March 1998, ASC became a separate non-profit corporation and is currently the largest, longest-standing, high-tech industry association in Central Texas. Today, ASC supports 400 companies representing more than 50,000 employees comprised of small to large companies in the bio-informatics, hardware, Internet, semiconductor, services, software, and telecom industries. For more information, go to www.austinsoftwarecouncil.org.

About St. Edward's University
Founded by the Congregation of Holy Cross, St. Edward's University is an
independent, Catholic liberal arts university of 4,100 students in Austin.
http://www.stedwards.edu/cpe/