Make the Dean Pay. College Dean Meredith Woo, in a challenge to the fourth-year College class, pledged she would donate $1 to the College's Giving Campaign for each student who contributes $20.10 or more. In addition, she is committed to paying $2,010 if at least that many students make donations to the campaign. Encouraging a culture of giving here at the University is a laudable effort, and Woo should be commended for her attempt to make students cognizant of the obligation they have to funding the University's academic success.
"I wanted to put my money where my mouth is," Woo said. During the past two years, participation levels in the class giving campaign sat at a low 10 percent and the total raised only about $20,000. Although students most likely are aware of the ongoing giving campaigns, they tend to be unaware of the difference even small contributions can make.
Campaign Co-Chair Matt Schrimper also noted that students may not "realize only 7 percent of University funding comes from the state." The University is at risk of losing its competitive edge if more money is not collected from alternative sources. Higher education funding has been dwindling for decades and has been further reduced since the onslaught of our current recession. The University simply would not be able to keep up with its private peers - Harvard, Princeton, etc. - or its better-funded public rivals, such as the University of California, Berkeley, without other methods of financing. Tuition costs are steep for in-state students and even more so for those coming from out of state. Although many students may feel like they have given enough, they must realize that there is an appreciating return on investing in their alma mater.
The better funded the University is, the better chance it has to improve its academic standing, translating into a stronger demand for a University degree in the employment market. The academic caliber of an undergraduate education largely depends on the college's financial well-being. Students should take pride in the highly-ranked institution they attend and realize that even small gifts help the University remain among the best universities in the nation.
It is imperative that the University targets undergraduates for long-term giving as these students usually have more allegiance to the school than graduate students. Thus, administrators must not shy away from open communication with the undergraduate community. The more connected students feel to the University, the more likely they will donate.
One of the biggest disconnects students may feel is between themselves and the University's administration. In high school, students may bump into their principals on the way to class, but it is something of a rarity to find a University student who has met President John T. Casteen, III. To some extent, this comes with the territory of attending a university of about 20,000 students. Nevertheless, more administrative visibility like that created by the Make the Dean Pay initiative could prove successful in developing a culture of contributing to the University.
Read More
PAYNE: U.Va.’s acquisition of the FEI directly harms the children of Charlottesville
By Michael Payne | 2 hours agoThe Department of Education rescinded its award to CCS and gave the FEI property to the University instead.
COHEN: Charlottesville must embrace a comprehensive solution to homelessness
By Ryan Cohen | 2 days agoThe city has made several past efforts to reduce homelessness, but the growing number of unhoused people suggests that these temporary solutions are simply not enough.
WILLIAMS: The future of Virginia is on the ballot this fall
By Ryan Williams | 6 days agoHence, voters must make it their top priority to think critically and closely as they decide who their ballot will support this fall.
