As Ohio University celebrates 200 years of higher education, it is hoped that the bicentennial campaign will raise $200 million for several new projects.
These funds will help provide more than 80 new endowed chairs and named professorships, increased scholarship money, advances in technology and construction endeavors.
"The goals of the campaign are numerous," said Rick Harrison, assistant dean for student affairs development, "but it's to help elevate OU as an institution to the next level as we celebrate our past and future."
Vice President for University Advancement Leonard Raley said this campaign was planned to coincide with the bicentennial celebration. In planning the campaign, the focus has been on cultivating faculty and students for the next era at OU.
Nearly $172 million of the $200 million goal has been raised. The official deadline for the campaign is June 30, 2004.
"In a very down economy, we have exceeded expectations, and we're very focused in the stretch drive and confident we'll meet our goal," Raley said. "No question that the bad economy has kept a lot of people on the sidelines in giving and we're hoping the looming deadline will help people decide how to support the university."
In preparation of the deadline, the 22-member development staff has kicked efforts into overtime. One week out of every month will be dedicated to travel and face-to-face meetings with potential donors. If the staff can meet with 100 people in that week, a possible $10 million could be pledged.
Although much of the campaign has been focused on large corporate donations, more than 60 percent of pledges are from alumni, with an average donation of $92. Faculty and staff have pledged $9.2 million.
"People are investing in the university," Raley said.
The cornerstone of the campaign is planning for the future, Raley said. By attracting strong faculty through endowed chairs, strong students will follow.
In 2000 -- the official kick-off to the campaign -- there were 15 endowed chairs and 19 named professorships. Those numbers have nearly doubled since the campaign started. Twenty-eight endowed chairs -- with a minimum amount of $1 million -- and 56 new professorships will be added at completion of the campaign.
Nearly half of the campaign goal will be set aside for capital improvements to projects ranging from enhancement of athletics facilities and Templeton-Blackburn Alumni Memorial Auditorium to new facilities for the colleges of engineering and communications.
Another large project receiving funds directly from the campaign is the new lecture hall facility on Richland Avenue, to be completed in November. Total cost of the project is $14.5 million, but a sizeable portion of that -- $5 million -- was a private donation from alumnus Robert Walter.
The campaign's other focus is to cultivate young donors -- recent graduates who still want to support the university.
"It's not always the $100,000 gift, but it's just as important to cultivate young alumni," Harrison said.
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by Katie Primm
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An unidentified construction worker grinds into the ground at the future site of Bicentennial Park, next to a new lecture facility on the corner of Richland Avenue and South Green Drive yesterday. The park will feature a design by artist Maya Lin, an Athe
