Campaign trails on

'U' should continue focused fundraising

Thanks to a record-setting fundraising initiative, University coffers are teeming with cash. The Campaign for Michigan began five years ago, with a goal of raising $1 billion. It exceeded even these lofty expectations - collecting almost $1.4 billion. The funds make additional scholarships, departmental funding and facilities possible - and puts the University's endowment on par with those at other premier higher learning institutions. Alumnus Ira Harris suggested extending the Campaign to the year 2000, with a new goal set at $2 billion. University officials should heed his advice and use a substantial portion of the new funding to improve undergraduate education.

The Campaign raised $340 million for the University's endowment - increasing the number of endowed professorships from 125 to 226. With this luxury, the University can now pay more competitive salaries and attract a greater number of esteemed faculty members. Moreover, students now have more opportunities to interact with professors. LSA has funding for almost all first-year students to participate in small-enrollment seminars. These seminars allow intellectual growth while easing the transition to college. Future fundraising efforts should aim to make these types of seminars available to all undergraduate students.

The Campaign enabled the University to grant more scholarships than ever before. For instance, the University established the Colton Leadership Award to give full funding to dozens of outstanding leaders with limited financial resources. Donations to endow professorships and scholarships have an additional benefit - they hold down educational costs. Previously, faculty salaries and student scholarships came out of the University's general fund. Now, with endowed funds paying for more of these benefits, the University's financial burden is less and tuition increases remain low. This year's tuition increase was 2.9 percent, as compared to previous years' double-digit hikes.

The list of further Campaign benefits seems almost endless: The School of Information overhauled its curriculum to adapt to today's changing technology. The College of Engineering was able to establish a Department for Biomedical Engineering. The Medical School built the Cancer and Geriatrics Center. General Electric donated funds to encourage women and minorities to pursue studies in the physical sciences and engineering.

The Campaign officially ended on Wednesday. Its success was rooted in its design. Five years ago, the Office of Development consulted with deans to determine what each of their schools needed in additional funding. The campaign then aggressively sought out alumni of the various schools to donate money for specific programs. Judy Malcolm, director of communication for the office, said all the Campaign's goals were reached or exceeded. Fundraising efforts will continue - although fundraisers may no longer seek to achieve specific goals. The Campaign succeeded due to its specificity. The new means of fundraising lack focus - and may flounder.

The Office of Development should once again meet with deans to form a new set of objectives. The Campaign helped to improve all segments of the University - its continuation would further enhance what the University can offer to faculty, students and the public at-large.

10-03-97