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Engineering bests $50 million mark, continues efforts

The Engineering School topped its $50 million Capital Campaign goal last month -- the latest in a string of individual schools to surpass their original expectations.

Thomas N. Connors, Engineering School vice president for development, said the $50 million mark came a full year earlier than expected.

The Engineering School's original goal was $37.5 million, which later was raised to $50 million.

Connors said the Engineering School has not yet considered raising its Campaign goal again.

"We're continuing to raise money, but don't have a new" goal figure, he said.

He added that 80 percent of the funds have come in the form of cash gifts, while $10 million was pledged as future support for the University.

Connors said the raised funds are used for three purposes -- endowed faculty chairs, student scholarships and expanded and renovated facilities.

The Engineering School Capital Campaign is part of the University's larger Campaign, which met its $1 billion goal Dec. 10 after receiving a $62 million gift to the Darden School -- the largest gift ever donated to any business school.

Director of Development Communications Bill Sublette said several other University schools also have reached and surpassed their original individual Campaign goals.

Sublette said that, in addition to the Engineering School, the Law School, the Jefferson Scholars program, the University Health System, which includes the Medical and Nursing Schools, the Darden School and the College of Arts & Sciences all have met their fundraising goals.

Each school decides for itself whether to raise their goal or to continue to raise funds without any change in the official target, he said.

"It all depends on a decision by the deans and Campaign leadership" of the individual schools, he added. Each school decides on the "best strategy" for raising funds.

Sublette said the College changed its original goal to $100 million, but has continued to raise funds since surpassing that figure as well.

This month, the College's Campaign reported that it has raised a total of $116 million.

Sublette said the success of the Campaign is "inspiring to potential donors" and often prompts them to continue giving to the University.

"Most donors understand the Campaign does not end when the goal is met," he said. The success of the Campaign "inspires confidence in the institution"

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