Telefund moves seniors to alumni status

By Anna Clark

Daily Staff Reporter

'Tis the season for giving.

Yesterday, Telefund and the University's Office for Development kicked off the Senior Pledge Campaign, the annual program to recruit senior donations to the University.

Although Telefund normally solicits donations from University alumni via telephone, the current campaign targets the Class of 2000.

"This program is something to begin to help students fit into their upcoming role as alumni," said Julie Brown, executive director for annual giving.

Although students may feel as if they have contributed more than enough support to the University through their tuition checks, the senior gift covers items that tuition and funding do not.

Brown said donations made by students go toward the school or college in which they are enrolled. The money supports scholarships, theme semesters and projects between professors and undergraduates.

"Gifts make this place a better institution," she added.

As part of the program, the Telefund office plans to call graduating seniors, hoping to convince them to give back to the University.

Almost half of all seniors are contacted by Telefund and about 40 percent of those contacted choose to pledge money, said Jenny Veve, Telefund's annual giving program manager.

While the number of participants and average donation amount varies each year, Veve said the program generally brings in between $35,000 and $40,000, with the average gift about $40.

Seniors may also be contacted by mail.

This year's campaign included a joint venture with the giving program and Espresso Royale Cafe. Seniors received coupons for free coffee on Feb. 23 and the program set up information booths and on-site pledging at Espresso Royale on North and Central campuses.

Students who redeemed the coupons were entered into a raffle, with the grand prize being airfare and hotel accommodations for two in Las Vegas. The drawing is scheduled to take place April 10.

"We probably lose money with this project," Brown said. "But we're educating people through it."

But some seniors see the senior pledge program as another hassle.

"It seems interesting and worthwhile, but at the same time, it's just one more thing," Engineering senior Esteban Corbin said. "It's just another money issue I have to deal with, along with graduation, my class ring, pictures, cap and gown, travel (and) bringing in family for graduation."

While many graduating seniors say they already have enough money worries, Brown said students don't realize how they've benefited from alumni donations.

"They've been paying for a service in their education," she said. "But so many parts of that education wasn't covered in their tuition but through private individuals."

Brown added that the emotional aspect of their impending graduation can cloud the students' understanding of the "whole picture."

Donations made to the College of Literature, Science and the Arts, which brings in the most money because of its high student enrollment, go to projects such as Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program. Business and engineering schools also have "pretty good averages," which Brown attributed to the fact that the students in those schools are likely to have definite job prospects.

The School of Art and Design uses the money for art supplies, guest lectures and visiting artists. The Dental School uses the funds almost exclusively for scholarships.

This year the College of Engineering will be using its donations to put a block 'M', similar to the one on the Diag, on North Campus.