DUBUQUE, Iowa, Oct. 12 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- The McGraw-Hill Companies today officially opened its new environmentally-friendly global headquarters for its higher education science, engineering and math group at the Port of Dubuque, Iowa. To help mark the occasion, Harold McGraw III, chairman, president and CEO of The McGraw-Hill Companies, announced the launch of the William C. Brown/James H. McGraw Greater Dubuque College Scholarship Competition.

In the new four-story, state-of-the-art building, nearly 400 McGraw-Hill Education employees provide editorial, production and marketing services focused on the development of higher education textbooks, digital products and other content for the critical subjects of science, engineering, math and allied health. The employees moved to the new 139,000 square-foot office building in August from a leased facility on Kerper Boulevard in Dubuque.

"As the demand for educated and skilled workers grows in the U.S. and abroad, our new facility in Dubuque serves as an important gateway for developing the textbooks and education materials needed by tomorrow's scientists, engineers, mathematicians and health professionals," said Mr. McGraw. "We are excited that this state-of-the-art facility provides a new home for our talented and dedicated workforce here as we continue to help students around the world reach their full potential. That is something we can all be proud of."

Scholarships Announced

The scholarship competition, administered by Scholarship America, will award two $10,000 grants to Greater Dubuque-area high school seniors who plan to continue their education in a four-year college degree program, majoring in the disciplines of science, engineering or math. Each grant is for $2,500 annually over four years. The submission process includes an essay and research project focused on fostering economic growth and development through technology and eco-friendly practices. Winners will be announced in early spring 2008.

"Now more than ever, America faces a serious shortage of highly educated workers. To maintain our competitive edge as the world rapidly grows up around us, we must invest in our young people and encourage them to pursue the fields of science, technology, engineering and math," said Mr. McGraw.

The scholarship competition is named for William C. Brown, the founder of Wm. C. Brown publishing company, which The McGraw-Hill Companies acquired as part of its acquisition of the Times Mirror Higher Education Group in 1996, and James H. McGraw, who founded The McGraw-Hill Companies in 1888.

"James H. McGraw and William C. Brown were visionaries who identified trends and provided information, insight and solutions to help individuals and markets successfully manage change and foster economic growth," said Mr. McGraw. "These scholarships will honor their legacies."

Dubuque Facility is Eco-friendly

McGraw-Hill Education's new building incorporates a number of eco-friendly features, including preferred parking for hybrid vehicles, a white roof to reduce absorption of solar heat, plumbing fixtures that reduce water consumption by 30 percent, and HVAC and mechanical equipment designed and installed to optimize energy efficiency. It was constructed using regionally manufactured and recycled materials, low-emitting adhesives, sealants, paints and carpeting.

The Corporation is applying for Leadership Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification, a nationally recognized benchmark for high performance green buildings, for its Dubuque higher education offices. According to the U.S. Green Building Council, which administers LEED certification, the Corporation's Dubuque office building is one of only three projects in Dubuque seeking certification.

McGraw-Hill Education also operates a distribution center in Dubuque, which is the primary distribution point for educational products offered by CTB/McGraw-Hill, a leading publisher of standardized student achievement tests, and McGraw-Hill Professional, which focuses on professional, reference, and trade publishing.

McGraw-Hill Education has approximately 460 employees in Dubuque.

About McGraw-Hill Education:

McGraw-Hill Education is a leading global provider of instructional, assessment and reference solutions that empower professionals and students of all ages. McGraw-Hill Education has offices in 33 countries and publishes in more than 40 languages. Additional information is available at http://www.mheducation.com.

About The McGraw-Hill Companies:

Founded in 1888, The McGraw-Hill Companies is a leading global information services provider meeting worldwide needs in the financial services, education and business information markets through leading brands such as Standard & Poor's, McGraw-Hill Education, BusinessWeek and J.D. Power and Associates. The Corporation has more than 280 offices in 40 countries. Sales in 2006 were $6.3 billion. Additional information is available at http://www.mcgraw-hill.com.

Release issued: October 12, 2007

SOURCE The McGraw-Hill Companies

Contact: Frank Briamonte Senior Director, Corporate Communications (212) 512-4145 (office) (201) 725-6133 (mobile) frank_briamonte@mcgraw-hill.com Jason Feuchtwanger Senior Manager, Corporate Communications (212) 512-3151 (office) (347) 419-4169 (mobile) jason_feuchtwanger@mcgraw-hill.com