Current Initiatives
Urban Scholars
The Mission of the Urban Scholars Program is to provide scholarship support for students graduating from urban school districts who demonstrate academic achievement and financial need. It is the vision of Dr. Roderick J. McDavis (BSEd ’70), Ohio University’s 20th president, for the Urban Scholars Program to serve as a model for increasing diversity within Ohio’s colleges and universities. There will be 10 Urban Scholars studying on the Athens Campus in fall 2005, with an ultimate goal of 100 Urban Scholars on campus each year.
It is Ohio University’s goal to build a $20 million endowment to support this need-based scholarship program.
http://www.ohio.edu/diversity/urbanscholars/
Appalachian Scholars
The Appalachian Scholars Program is a need-based scholarship initiative that seeks high school students from the 29 counties in Appalachian Ohio and provides them with scholarship support to attend Ohio University. The program will provide scholarship opportunities for graduates of Appalachian school districts in the state who demonstrate enthusiasm, motivation to succeed, academic achievement and financial need. All six Ohio University campuses will participate in this program. The goal is to enroll the initial class of 10 students for fall 2006 and eventually enroll 40 students from the Appalachian Ohio.
For the 2006-07 academic year, $10,000 is required to fund each student. It is Ohio University’s goal to build an endowment to support this need-based scholarship program.
http://pages.ohio.edu/development/vignettes/Appalachian-Scholars.cfm
Integrated Learning & Research Facility
The new Integrated Learning & Research Facility will welcome students, faculty, staff, alumni, and visitors to learning and discovery in the 21st century. This exciting space will include classrooms called studios, workspaces called hangars, corridors called pathways, and state-of-the-art laboratories. The secret to the excitement will be a learning-centered design that encourages individual exploration, teamwork, and conversation. By its very design, the facility will bring people together to enhance learning, advance research, and promote active collaboration. The $30 million facility will change the face of learning and research at Ohio University.
This project has received $5 million in support from alumnus Charles R. Stuckey (BSME '66) and his wife, Marilyn, and $10 million from the Osteopathic Heritage Foundation. Ohio University seeks to raise an additional $10 million to support this innovative building project.
1804 Fund
Endowed in 1979 during The 1804 Campaign, The 1804 Fund “enhances the quality of University programs and life” through support of faculty research, graduate studies, and undergraduate learning. The Fund has awarded in excess of $13 million to more than 500 projects and programs. A few examples: The School of Physical Therapy, provided with start-up funds in 1982, now offers the first professional doctoral program in physical therapy in the state of Ohio. The Contemporary History Institute, funded in 1988, today performs a unique function in American higher education by analyzing the contemporary period in world affairs — World War II to the present — from an interdisciplinary historical perspective. More recently, the Office of Nationally Competitive Awards (ONCA) was launched with an 1804 Fund grant in 1999. ONCA helps talented students compete for awards such as the Rhodes, Fulbright, Truman, Goldwater, and British Marshall. Since its inception 73 students have received these, and other, prestigious awards.
It’s a University priority to grow The 1804 Fund endowment from $3.3 to $10 million ($7 million goal).
University Center
The new Baker University Center is under construction at the heart of campus. Linking South Court Street on the College Green with the Oxbow Trail on the West, it will provide a bridge between the upper and lower parts of campus and serve as a central hub for campus activities. The location symbolizes Ohio University’s commitment to student learning and growth. Based on extensive input from students, staff, and faculty, the 183,300 square foot Center will address a number of specific needs:
· Student Programming Space
· Student Leadership Center
· Meeting and Event Space
· Student Oriented Food Service
· Student Organization Space
· Gathering and Study Spaces
· Parking
Funds from the State of Ohio and student fees are funding the new University Center’s construction; however, it is the visionary commitment, creativity, and support of private philanthropists that will bring the new facility to life by funding the programs, services, and activities contained within.
The University seeks to raise $6 million to help make our vision for the new University Center a reality.
http://www.ohio.edu/universitycenter/
Senior Class Signature
The program is an annual campaign developed by the Office of Annual Giving and student leaders of Ohio University to encourage participation & build a tradition of philanthropy for students and alumni. The funds raised by this campaign always go towards a special annual project designated by graduating seniors to leave their mark and give something back to Ohio University.
http://www.ohio.edu/seniorgift/
Office of Nationally Competitive Awards (ONCA)
The Office of Nationally Competitive Awards (ONCA) was launched with an 1804 Fund grant in 1999. ONCA helps talented students compete for awards such as the Rhodes, Fulbright, Truman, Goldwater, and Marshall. Since ONCA’s inception 91 students have received these, and other, prestigious awards.
It’s the University’s goal to establish a $2 million endowment to support ONCA.
http://www.onca.org/
Faculty Support (named professorships and endowed chairs)
Endowed faculty positions attract exceptional talent to classrooms and laboratories… Their reputations and capabilities attract students who want to study in a special environment. They benefit the entire University community. Talented faculty in all fields – from classics to chemical engineering – are in high demand. Ohio University will increase its ability to compete for this talent with endowed chairs and named professorships. The University currently has commitments to support 24 chairs and 38 professorships (62 total). Our esteemed peer institutions, such as the Universities of North Carolina and Virginia, each support hundreds of these valuable positions.
Endowments established to support chairs ($1 million minimum) and professorships ($250,000 minimum) will provide funds, in perpetuity, for a salary supplement (no more than 50 percent of funds made available from the endowment will be used to supplement the individual’s salary), as well as funds to be used at the scholar’s discretion for research, travel to conferences and symposia, professional development, and other expenses related to scholarship. As a testament to the university’s belief in these endowed positions, we will provide the faculty line to support the remainder of the individual’s salary as well as his/her benefits.
General Scholarships
Scholarship incentives often play a crucial role as students make decisions about where to attend college and what major to pursue. At Ohio University, we look to private support to make the difference as we strive to attract the bright young people who will be tomorrow’s leaders. Endowed scholarships help to recruit students and to ensure that those who can and should benefit from an excellent education and professional career training can afford to attend, and to stay. An investment in scholarships is an investment in the University’s most precious resource: its students.
Ohio University endowments provide about $4 million in scholarships annually, more than one-third of all scholarship aid awarded. Each year, hundreds of students with great promise apply for university-awarded financial aid. Only 24 percent of these requests can be met. Support for scholarships will help the University to recruit additional top-notch students. It will narrow the gap between the number of awards requested and those granted. In the competitive education marketplace where financial support plays a pivotal role in enrollment and course-of-study decisions, Ohio University must increase scholarship aid to attract and retain the best students.
Teaching Excellence Awards
Awarded by the Office of the President, these awards recognize up to four Ohio University faculty members annually for their excellence inside and outside the classroom, as acknowledged by their peers and students. The awards recognize innovative teaching efforts, curriculum development, mentoring of students and fellow faculty, and scholarship. Recipients receive a cash prize worth $15,000 over three years.
It is the University’s goal to establish a $1.2 million endowment to support this award program.
Women in Philanthropy
The Ohio University Women in Philanthropy Initiative will foster a powerful tradition of giving and support for the University and its surrounding areas by increasing the number of women donors and their major gifts, providing advocacy about women’s philanthropic issues and training the next generation of Ohio University donors. The purpose of the group is to broaden the base of financial support by women at Ohio University, while building a culture of giving among current and future students at OHIO.
The goal of the Women in Philanthropy Initiative is to raise an endowment of $100,000.
http://www.ohio.edu/development/women/
