January 17, 2003

Fund Drive Reaches $230 Million: Campaign Continues to June 2004

Support to the Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology Vision to be the Best Campaign has reached $230 million as of Jan. 15. The latest boost to the campaign total was a $24.9 million grant to Rose-Hulman Ventures which was announced Dec. 3. The largest fundraising campaign in Rose-Hulman history exceeded its original goal of $200 million in September.

President Samuel F. Hulbert announces the Vision to be the Best campaign's success and he reviews the drive will continue to achieve unmet goals.

At a Sept. 20 news conference, Rose-Hulman President Samuel Hulbert said even though the campaign goal had been exceeded, the fund-raising drive would continue until its original June 2004 completion date because some specific campaign goals have not been achieved.

"Gifts often are restricted and are used for the purpose stated by the donor," Hulbert stated. "Those donations are always for something we need, however, they may not be for a specific campaign priority." The campaign total includes gifts received, commitments and pledges.

Hulbert said donations are needed to increase professional development opportunities for faculty, and to endow faculty chairs to retain and recruit the best teachers. Funds are still being sought to renovate laboratories, support curricular innovations and provide more scholarships. A campaign goal to construct a new building for applied biology, biomedical engineering and chemistry programs is still unfunded, he stated.

"We need to ensure that we provide our faculty and students with the best educational facilities possible," Hulbert emphasized. "We also continue to seek more scholarship funds. Providing a scholarship to a deserving student is an investment in the future," he said.

"Support to the campaign has been remarkable, especially when the national economic climate is taken into consideration," he noted.

Gifts to be Matched by Lilly Endowment

Considerable progress is being made to achieve a matching gift challenge sponsored by the Lilly Endowment which will match contributions totaling up $3.5 million. The Endowment's "Special Initiative to Strengthen Philanthropy for Indiana Higher Education Institutions" is designed to encourage contributions from alumni, faculty, staff, students, parents and others who have a special interest in Rose-Hulman.

Each of Indiana's 38 two- and four-year private and public accredited colleges and universities is eligible to participate in the matching gift program which could potentially provide $138 million to strengthen higher education in the state. All the funds will be used for academic purposes. The matching grant funds will be allocated at the discretion of each institution's president, according to the Endowment. The breakdown of the challenge program includes:

• Up $3 million must come from alumni.
• Up to $250,000 from parents and students (including parents of alumni).
• Up to $250,000 from current or former faculty and staff.

This initiative is another example of the Lilly Endowment's outstanding leadership that is providing vital support to the development of higher education," said Rose-Hulman President Samuel Hulbert. "Rose-Hulman applauds the Lilly Endowment for creating this program that could provide $3.5 million to the institute. This initiative will have a significant, positive impact on our efforts to achieve goals that are important to Rose-Hulman's future," he stated.

Alumni Giving Rate Among Nation's Best

During the 2001-2002 fiscal year, Rose-Hulman received gifts from 44% of its alumni which ranks it in the top three percent of the 960 colleges and universities that report their annual alumni-giving data to the Council for Aid to Education.

The alumni-giving percentage also ranks Rose-Hulman first among the 18 private colleges and universities that are members of the Association of Independent Technological Universities. The group includes schools ranging from MIT and California Institute of Technology to Case Western Reserve and Clarkson universities.

Clyde Willian, chairman of the Rose-Hulman Board of Trustees, said the record-setting support to Rose-Hulman illustrates the confidence and reputation Rose-Hulman has earned nationwide.

"This is a truly remarkable achievement. The success of the campaign is a strong indication of the high level of confidence that so many individuals and organizations have in this institution. On behalf of the Board of Trustees, I want to thank all the donors, Dr. Hulbert and his staff for their leadership and diligent efforts. " he said.

Achievements During Phase II of the Campaign

Hulbert said the following developments were key factors in achieving many of the Phase II campaign goals:

• Funds to expand educational opportunities through the development of unique programs, notably the $29.7 million grant from the Lilly Endowment to create Rose-Hulman Ventures. It is the largest grant ever received by the college.
• A $14 million gift from 1984 alumnus Mike Hatfield to create Hatfield Hall, a new theater and rehearsal rooms for student drama and music groups, and new administrative offices.
• Increased scholarship aid provided by gifts from alumni, corporations, foundations and individuals. Among the corporations providing scholarship support have been General Motors, Texas Instruments, Cummins and Marathon Oil.
• A $1.5 million gift from the late John White, class of 1947, and his wife Elizabeth which was the lead gift for the new White Chapel.
• Scholarship gifts from individuals included a $1.3 million gift from the estate of alumnus Charles Yohe, and a $1.2 million donation from the late Bernard and Gwendolyn Wernsing of Terre Haute.
• Funds to increase academic programs in appled biology, biomedical engineering and the life sciences. Donors included the Guidant Foundation, a gift from Guidant CEO Ron Dollens, and a donation from Eli Lilly and Co.
• Grants to help improve math and science education in Indiana schools that will result in more students pursuing college degrees in engineering and scientific disciplines. Lilly Endowment grants are expanding the Homework Hotline to the entire state, and making it possible for Rose-Hulman to create a new web portal so teachers can more easily use Internet resources to teach math and science.
• A $400,000 Keck Foundation grant has launched a program to teach microelectrical mechanical systems(MEMS) technology. The grant is also funding the creation of a MEMS lab.
• A grant from the Caterpillar Foundation created a studio lab environment in electrical and computer engineering.
• Funding from the Lilly Endowment to create Engenius Solutions has developed a web-based project to improve the chances that technical innovations developed by Rose-Hulman students will make it to the marketplace.

The public phase of the Vision to be the Best Campaign began March 6, 1995, with an original goal of $100 million by June 2004. The 10-year goal was achieved in half the time anticipated. On September 10, 1999, President Hulbert announced that $116 million had been received, and the goal was being increased to $200 million with no change in the original date to end the campaign.