Alma College Launches 'Open Windows' Campaign
It’s all about the students.
Alma College has launched into the public phase of a $35.25 million
fund-raising campaign designed to support scholarships, academic
programs and educational experiences that help students see and
experience a broader vision of the world.
The “Open Windows” campaign, the largest planned fund-raising effort in
the College’s history, focuses on strengthening student opportunities
that build upon and enhance classroom learning.
“Alma College quite literally opens the world to its students through a
multitude of opportunities that transcend the classroom, ” said Alma
College President Saundra Tracy. “This is a campaign that seeks to
build a sustainable endowment to support these special kinds of
opportunities that lead to student success — opportunities that can’t
be sustained through tuition alone.
“The Open Windows campaign represents one of our most concerted efforts
to solidify Alma’s endowment to broaden current initiatives for
students and bring life to new ones,” she said.
The campaign has already achieved 64.8 percent of its goal, according
to Carol Hyble, vice president for advancement. More than $22.8 million
has been raised during the nearly two-year quiet phase of the campaign.
“Alma College has been a successful liberal arts institution for 120
years and exists because of a strong legacy of supporters who believe
in the College and make it a priority,” said Hyble. “Gifts received for
this campaign will establish scholarships, provide endowments for
faculty professorships, enhance academic programs, and increase
opportunities for students in the areas of responsible leadership,
collaborative research and the performing arts.
“This is an opportunity to build upon the College’s strengths and have
a far-reaching impact on the success of our current and future
students,” she said.
The campaign seeks to “open windows” of opportunities for students — a
phrase that has been adopted as the official campaign theme, said Mart
Johnson, board trustee and campaign chairman.
“This campaign will strengthen the foundation of our core values of
student-centered education, engaged learning, a strong belief in a
liberal arts preparation, and preparing ethical leaders for the 21st
century,” said Johnson. “It will open new windows of opportunities for
our students to help them find, pursue and create their paths to
success.”
“Open Windows: A Campaign for Alma College” targets fund-raising goals in five key areas:
$11 million for the Center for Responsible Leadership
All Alma students, regardless of academic major or degree, are exposed
to leadership development opportunities through the Center for
Responsible Leadership. The Center’s goals are to prepare leaders who
have the ability to initiate and manage change, embrace their sense of
ethical purpose and commitment, and focus on long-term decision-making
over short-term gain.
The campaign identifies goals for various components of the Center for
Responsible Leadership, including support for the leadership fellows
program, leaders-in-residence, campus speakers, workshops and seminars,
community service and outreach opportunities, and a physical Center
space that will bring together academic and co-curricular activities
with faculty, staff, students and guests.
The Herbert H. and Grace A. Dow Foundation in Midland has committed $3
million to the Center to help prepare future leaders. The Center also
has received major funding from Lilly Endowment Inc., the Hayden
Foundation, and the Paul and Antje Newhagen Foundation. The $500,000
Lilly Endowment grant will be used to support many of the Center’s core
programs, including off-campus service trips, speakers, course
development and faith-based experiences.
$4 million for academic opportunities
The campaign targets three areas of enhancement:
• $2 million for the Collaborative Research Program, which provides
opportunities for students to work side by side with faculty
researching areas of interest across the curriculum, both on and off
campus;
• $1 million for the Premiere Fund for the Arts, which is designed to
increase student exposure to artistic work and allows students to work
directly with visiting artists; and
• $1 million for The Initiative for Academic Innovation, which provides
faculty opportunities to master new technologies, theories and
pedagogical methods for the classroom.
$4.5 million for endowed programs
This includes support for student scholarships, academic programs and faculty professorships.
“Building our endowment will help sustain the good opportunities we
have for students and ensure a strong future for Alma College,” said
Hyble.
$4.75 million for facilities
A significant portion of Alma’s campaign dedicated to facilities has already been completed:
• $4 million for Wright Hall, Alma’s “green” residence hall that was
completed in January 2005. The modern apartment-style hall features a
number of environmentally friendly features, including a geothermal
heat pump, energy-efficient windows, solar heating panels, and
energy-efficient showers and washing machines. Wright Hall has been
funded through donor gifts at 100 percent.
• $250,000 for the renovation of McIntyre Mall, which was completed in
August 2004. A focal point on campus, McIntyre Mall provides a central
space for gathering, reading or studying. The renovation has been
funded at 100 percent.
• $500,000 for renovation of the Hogan Physical Education Center to
better meet the needs of fitness and education. Hogan was last
renovated in the 1980s. Since then, the number of students using the
facility has greatly increased, and the growth of women’s athletics has
soared. The project includes the remodeling of the lower level of
Hogan, increasing the space available for athletic training and
rehabilitation, and redistributing the locker room facilities into more
functional spaces.
$11 million for ongoing essential resources
Alma College receives annual support for academic departments,
intercollegiate athletics and various teaching, research and cultural
programs. The campaign identifies goals in two areas:
• $5 million for the Alma Fund, which helps fund the day-to-day operational costs of the College,
• $6 million for estate commitments.
The campaign will conclude Dec. 31, 2008.
Posted: Fri, October 6th, 2006 at 12:45PM
