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President establishes Fund for Academic Excellence

The Fund for Academic Excellence is making quiet, steady progress as it nears the first year of planning. In mid-March, President Welty authorized the formal creation of the Fund, which he had announced and endorsed in opening year Assembly meetings.

In a letter to Warren Kessler, interim chair of the Fund Board of Directors, President Welty said, "I have always felt the concept of the Fund for Academic Excellence was a very positive idea, and I have been pleased with the work with your Board has done to get things started." He authorized formal creation of the Board in accordance with Operating Principles the Fund Board and administration have accepted, and asked the Board to work with Dr. Peter Smits, Vice President for University Advancement, to sign required legal and financial documents.

Family Campaign

In addition, President Welty reported that the Steering Committee for the Comprehensive Campaign wants the Fund for Academic Excellence to serve as Family Campaign within the Comprehensive Campaign. The "Family Campaign" is an in-house effort to raise funds and pledges from faculty, staff and administrators ­ to demonstrate to the outside community our own commitment to excellence. The President stated, "The leadership of faculty and staff on the Fund Board, the representation of key faculty, staff and student groups on the Board, put the Fund in a special position to be credible and effective in "in-house" fund-raising."

Working Groups: Child Care and Professional Development

In other fund developments, two Working Groups of volunteers have been brainstorming on needs and options to support the fund's two major funding goals: child care for faculty and staff, and professional development for the same groups.

Alma Zechman (staff, Chicano and Latin American Studies) is chairing the Child Care Working Group. Candace Egan (AIC -Technology Training) heads the Professional Development Working Group.

The two Working Groups are slated to submit progress reports to the Fund Board of Directors before the board's May 13 meeting. The Child Care Working Group has developed a survey for all faculty and staff on child care needs and priorities. The survey will be distributed during the first week of May. The board asks that you take time to review this survey and respond.

Back to University Journal, 5/03 Issue