In a recent outpouring of support for the Honor system, the Honor Committee now has received pledges for a $2 million endowment, a sum suggesting that Honor remains an important ideal to many people outside University borders.
The pledges came from over 1,300 donors, and a portion of the fund was donated by the Board of Visitors,Committee Chair Carey Mignerey said.
"The Committee is very proud of the support we have received from alumni and friends of the Honor system," Mignerey said. "It's a clear demonstration of how important the community of trust was to them, not just while they were students, but also after they left the University."
The donations will be part of the University of Virginia Fund, a fund-raising entity that now manages over $175 million in 600 separate endowments that benefit many areas of the University.
The Honor Endowment Allocation Committee will hold a meeting in April to distribute the first interest earnings of the fund, Mignerey said. The Allocation Committee consists of members of the Honor Committee, the Alumni Association, the Board of Visitors and the University administration.
Mignerey said the collaboration of different associations attests to the joint nature of the project.
"This is a special partnership between the Honor Committee, administration and Alumni Association," he said. "It demonstrates our mutual goal in maintaining our tradition of honor."
The $2 million endowment should generate $100,000 in annual income, according to Honor Web site. A large portion of the money will be used for special honor education projects, such as more student roundtables to discuss the Honor system, improvement of education materials and diversity training for support officers.
Dave Wolcott, chair of the alumni relations ad hoc committee, said the money will provide necessary resources for Honor initiatives.
"The focus will be on education and outreach, which we did not have the resources to do before," Wolcott said.
Funds also will be used to pay for the Committee's legal counselor, whose salary currently is paid by the University.
Mignerey emphasized that the interest generated from the endowment will supplement, rather than replace, state-allocated funds, which tend to be restricted.
Mignerey said it is looking to increase interaction with alumni by sending update letters and making the Committee more visible at Reunions Weekend in June.
"Our alumni have expressed intense desire to stay updated with the Committee's work," he said. "It's prompted some of our efforts, mainly creating the [Alumni Relations ad hoc] committee and writing letters."
An annual column will be written in the alumni news bulletin to serve as an update on student self-governance and the goals of the Honor and Judiciary Committees and Student Council.
Wolcott noted the importance of Honor to alumni and the Committee's dedication to enhancing alumni relations.
"We know that Honor is one of the most important things people take away from the University," he said. "I think there's a lot of progress we can make in maintaining relations with alumni"
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