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CAS Raises $10 million
The College of Arts and Sciences raised over $10 million through the generosity of nearly 11,000 donors in its efforts during ISU’s five-year Redefining "normal" fundraising campaign. Through this effort, the College has made great advances toward securing the funding necessary to fulfill its goals: to provide the best liberal arts and sciences education in the state, to produce nationally and internationally recognized research and scholarship, and to engage in public service and continuing education activities. "The success of this campaign is measured in more than dollars and cents," explained Director of Development Dorothy M. Witte. "Each gift serves as an endorsement of our value and an investment in our future. Whatever the donor's relationship to this institution, their contribution sends a clear message of the importance of higher education in their lives and those yet to come."

 

 

Through the $10 million raised by the College, CAS was able to substancially increase the size of its endowment. Specifically, the campaign led to the creation of 36 new endowments. For students, these endowments will enhance the college experience by offering scholarships that will award more competitive financial aid packages—making higher education accessible to students of all economic backgrounds and promoting geographic and cultural diversity to benefit all students. For faculty, these endowments will support new teaching initiatives, augment existing programs, and increase opportunities for research funding.

The Campaign also led to the establishment of two new Endowed Chair positions held by College of Arts and Sciences faculty. Tom and Janet Andes donated $1 million to establish the Tom and Janet Andes Endowed Chair for General Education, which provides a faculty member who is an outstanding teacher of inner-core General Education courses an endowed three-year appointment. Professor of Philosophy Kenton Machina is the first professor to hold this chair. CAS alum Dr. K. Patricia Cross’ gift established the Cross Chair in the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning, which will enhance innovation and research in teaching and increase Illinois State’s ability to attract outstanding teaching scholars to campus. Professor of Sociology Kathleen McKinney holds the first Cross Chair in the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning.

The campaign also saw the College earn the largest gift in its history—$2 million from four local physicians. Dr. Keith and Nita Kattner, Dr. Ramsin Benyamin, Dr. Ricardo Vallejo, and Dr. Ann R. Stroink all established graduate fellowships in Neuroscience. The objectives of the fellowships are to expand the Biological Sciences department’s research effort and recognition in neuroscience; provide neuroscience researchers access to the facilities and intellectual climate at Illinois State; recruit highly qualified graduate students who are interested in neuroscience, stroke and pain medicine; and increase external funding in neuroscience within the department.

Other significant campaign gifts to the College include Maya and Vittal Shenoy’s planned gift of $1 million to the Department of Speech Pathology and Audiology, the Alice L. Ebel estate’s gift of more than $900,000 to support scholarships for female students majoring in political science, and Dr. Phares and Harriet O'Daffer's gift to establish graduate fellowships in the Department of Mathematics.

Redefining “normal,” the Campaign for Illinois State University, has been a five-year, comprehensive fund-raising effort to meet the needs of future students and faculty, promote partnerships with the community and businesses, elevate the University's stature, and enhance the value of an Illinois State University degree for the students and alumni. On November 18, the University announced it had reached its $88 million goal, and projections put the campaign at over $90 million by its end on January 1, 2005.
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