IOWA CITY, IA-January 20, 2003 - Today MetaCommunications, Inc., a leading software developer of business management and workflow solutions for the graphic arts industry, announces a major donation of their award-winning Job Manger 3.0 production management software to the top-rated Graphic Information Technology program in the Department of Information and Management at Arizona State University. "The graphic technology program at Arizona State University is recognized as one of the most innovative graphics programs in the country, and MetaCommunications is proud to support their mission by providing their students and faculty with access to our technology," said Robert T. Long, Executive Vice President of MetaCommunications. ASU faculty member Penny Ann Dolin will use the software in her senior- and graduate-level course, "Graphic Industry Business Practices." Students will manage simulated graphics businesses, in which they are responsible for setting up the cost centes, workflows, and pricing; handling job estimates, costing, and billing; and managing production jobs. At the conclusion of the semester, each "company" will report on their productivity and profitability. "Our students need to understand the business side of the graphics industry. Accurate job estimation and costing are critical to success in our industry," said Dolin. "Job Manager is a perfect example of the kind of software required to run an effective graphics business today. It directly impacts an organization’s ability to properly manage jobs, and ultimately, to maintain profitability." Dolin continued, "Our goal as professors is to help students be more competitive in the marketplace by having exposure to the kinds of tools they’ll be expected to use in their professional careers. MetaCommunications’ donation allows us to provide the kind of real-world, experiential learning opportunity we strive for."