FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The department of information systems in the Sam M. Walton College of Business has been selected as one of 10 Wal-Mart Stores Inc. Information Systems Division’s “core schools.”

As a result, Walmart ISD is continuing for the second year the “Walmart ISYS Scholars” program this fall for a total of $10,000. There will be scholarships for four students and four summer internship slots at Walmart for their scholars.

To celebrate this partnership, the Walton College information systems department is hosting “Walmart Day” on Tuesday, Sept. 8, in the Business Building on the University of Arkansas campus. A six-person delegation from Walmart ISD is expected to visit the campus as part of the event.

“We are excited that Walmart ISD is seeking to further strengthen the great relationship that exists between our respective organizations,” said Moez Limayem, chair of the university’s information systems department. “We are very grateful for these scholarships, which will encourage more students to study information systems.” Limayem is also holder of the Walton College Professorship in Information Systems.

The day’s events will provide the Walmart representatives with an update on current programs in the information system department and provide an opportunity to meet with information systems faculty to discuss potential, joint research projects. Walmart will also present a check to University of Arkansas Chancellor Dave Gearhart and Walton College Senior Associate Dean Bill Curington.

The Walton College information systems department had the second most publications in the top two journals in information systems, MIS Quarterly and Information Systems Research, in 2008 and is recognized for its academic programs in enterprise systems and enterprise resource planning.

Over the past two years, the information systems department has conducted several programs to encourage high school students to become interested in information technology careers. The technology industry is expected to have a number of jobs open in the future.