The Information Technology Research Institute and the department of information systems in the Sam M. Walton College of Business at the University of Arkansas is sponsoring its first IT Day for Parents and Educators.

The program, designed for parents, educators, teachers and counselors, will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 4, at Willard J. Walker Hall Seminar Room 203. Dinner from Noodles will be served. For more information, or to RSVP, call 479-575-4261 or e-mail cpine@walton.uark.edu.

"We are very excited to be able to present such a program for parents and educators," said Bill Hardgrave, executive director of the Information Technology Research Institute. "Despite the economy, we want to reinforce that IT jobs are still hot, and that opportunities in high growth tech sector are plentiful, and not being shipped overseas."

The IT Day program includes:

• Welcome and overview of information technology as a career
• Information regarding financial aid and scholarships that are available for IT students
• How to help students find jobs after graduation
• A campus tour of the Sam M. Walton College of Business, the J.B. Hunt Transport Services Center for Academic Excellence, and Willard J. Walker Hall

Sponsors are Tyson Foods Inc., ConocoPhillips, FedEx Freight, Southwestern Energy Co., Arkansas BlueCross BlueShield, J.B. Hunt Transport Services Inc., Wal-Mart Stores Inc. and Arvest Bank.