Inside Iowa State: Iowa State University

May 23, 2003

ISU seeks $54.4 million for priorities

by Linda Charles
Support for faculty and students, as well as research and programmatic initiatives, make up Iowa State's fund-raising priorities for the next fiscal year.

President Gregory Geoffroy has asked the Iowa State University Foundation to raise $54.4 million to fund these priorities. The priorities are determined by the university through a detailed process that involves college deans, institute directors, vice presidents and foundation staff.

"This year's priorities center on helping us recruit and retain the very best faculty and the very best students, and on improving our facilities and programs," Geoffroy said.

The university is seeking almost $27 million to fund endowed chairs, professorships and fellowships for faculty, $13.5 million for under-graduate scholarships and graduate fellowships, and $14 million for research and programmatic initiatives (college programs, centers, institutes and labs).

Nearly half the funds will be raised for the colleges of Agriculture and Engineering ($12.2 million and $13 million respectively). Another $20.6 million will go to the other colleges ($4.1 million for Business, $2 million for Design, $1 million for Education, $4 million for Family and Consumer Sciences, $7.5 million for Liberal Arts and Sciences and $2 million for Veterinary Medicine).

Also on the list:

Alumni Association, $500,000
Athletics, $1 million
Extension/4-H, $1.4 million
Institute for Physical Research and Technology, $150,000
Plant Sciences Institute, $3.5 million
Student Affairs, $587,000
Library, $1 million
University Museums, $413,500

"We appreciate the good work of the Iowa State University Foundation in securing and managing private gifts and grants that support Iowa State University's aspiration to be the best university in the nation in fulfilling its land-grant responsibilities," Geoffroy said.

The university's priorities will be one part of the foundation's overall fund-raising goal for FY04, which begins July 1. That goal, which will be determined before June 30, also will include capital priorities, such as the Morrill Hall and Memorial Union renovations.