APPLETON, WIS. — Lawrence University President Jill Beck will announce a $150 million capital campaign, the most ambitious fundraising effort in the college’s history, Friday, Oct. 17.
Beck will unveil the campaign’s objectives to a crowd of alumni, trustees, faculty, staff, students and friends of the college at 5:30 p.m. in Stansbury Theatre.
The campaign, which began with a “quiet phase” in 2005, already has raised $104 million toward its goal, according to Beck. Campaign co-chairs William Hochkammer and Harry Jansen Kraemer, led the fundraising efforts during the quiet phase.
“This historic campaign is a commitment to building on our successes and to firmly establishing Lawrence as a national liberal arts education leader — the very best at providing the individualized learning experiences that our students and alumni know are powerfully transformative,” said Beck. “It’s critical that we invest aggressively to keep the defining characteristics of the university strong, ensure its vitality and pave the way for continued innovation that expands our students’ opportunities.”
Lawrence last conducted a major capital campaign from 1992-97 in celebration of the college’s sesquicentennial. That campaign raised $66.3 million, surpassing its goal of $60 million. The theme of the current campaign — “More Light!” — is derived from the respective mottos of Lawrence — “Light, More Light!” — and Milwaukee-Downer College “Sit Lux” (“Let there be light”). Milwaukee-Downer, a pioneering women’s college, consolidated with Lawrence in 1964.
The “More Light!” Campaign, which will conclude in October 2011, will have four major priorities: endowment; capital projects; new initiatives; and the Lawrence Fund.
Half of the campaign’s goal — $75 million — will be directed to Lawrence’s endowment. Of that total, $30 million will be designated for student scholarships and $15 million for endowed professorships and faculty salaries.
“The endowment is an investment in the faculty and students who are at the heart of our mission,” said Beck. “A more substantial endowment will give the college greater security and flexibility and ensure that Lawrence’s traditional strengths will endure and thrive.”
The campaign aims to raise $50 million for capital projects, some of which have already been started or completed.
A $4 million, 20,000-square-foot addition to the Björklunden lodge on Lawrence’s northern campus in Door County was completed in the summer of 2007 and officially dedicated on August 4. The addition more than doubled to 37,000 square-feet the size of the existing two-story seminar and conference center, which hosts adult week-long seminars during the summer and weekend student seminars during the academic year..
All funds for the $35 million campus center, the largest building project in Lawrence’s history, have already been raised, led by an anonymous $16 million leadership gift. When completed, the Campus Center will be one of the “greenest” buildings in the Fox Cities with a LEED Silver certification.
Other capital projects include the construction of The Hurvis Crossing across Lawe Street, connecting the Campus Center with the west end of campus; a riverwalk along the Fox River; and major renovations of the Lawrence Memorial Union and Jason Downer Commons.
A goal of $7 million has been established for the support of new initiatives, including Lawrence’s new Senior Experience, a “bookend” program to the college’s Freshman Studies program, the Lawrence Fellows program and the college’s Posse Scholars.
Founded in 2005, the Lawrence Fellows program brings newly-minted doctoral students to campus for two-or three-year appointments to teach courses, offer individualized instruction opportunities to students, and continue their professional activities as scholars, researchers, and/or performers.
The Posse program brings multicultural “cohorts” of 10 talented students from New York City to Lawrence each fall. Lawrence established a partnership in 2006 with the Posse Foundation, Inc., which prepares students for enrollment at top-tier universities nationwide through an intensive eight-month pre-collegiate training program. There are currently 20 Posse students on campus.
The final campaign priority will direct $18 million toward The Lawrence Fund, a financial infrastructure that covers virtually all of the annual operating expenses of the college, including helping to underwrite the cost of educating students, paying faculty and staff salaries and campus physical plant maintenance.
“It’s impossible to imagine Lawrence without a vibrant and growing annual fund,” said Beck. “As the college charts a course for the future, The Lawrence Fund is prioritized as a way of ensuring the student experience remains transformative and of superior quality. Lawrence is proud that during the past two decades, alumni participation rates for contributions to its annual fund are among the highest of its peers.”
