Dear OSU Community:
I am delighted to let you know that The Campaign for OSU just crossed
the $400 million mark. When we publicly launched our first capital
campaign at the end of October, donors had contributed $350 million
toward our $625 million campaign goal. We have been gaining tremendous
momentum since, with loyal alumni and friends making additional gifts
totaling $50 million in less than five months.
As the campaign tagline — This amazing place. This historic moment. —
suggests, The Campaign for OSU is about more than just numbers. It’s
about the amazing things happening in classrooms, on playing fields, and
in labs across campus. It’s about students and faculty striving to make
an historic impact on our state and our world, from strengthening
Oregon’s economy and quality of life through innovations and creative
ideas to helping find answers to society’s most pressing problems
through the groundbreaking collaborative research that has become a
hallmark of our institution.
Our alumni and friends clearly believe the campaign will broaden and
deepen OSU’s impact in these areas. I’m pleased to see that so many of
you do, too. In the last few months, we have seen remarkable generosity
from OSU faculty and staff, both current and emeritus. Their
commitments to The Campaign for OSU now total nearly $10 million and
benefit everything from Presidential Scholarships and endowed faculty
positions to the Poetry Interest Group and the Automotive Engineers
Fund. I’m deeply grateful for this support from the people who are
closest to our mission — those who see most clearly the needs and the
potential of our teaching, research, and service.
As we proceed through the first year of the campaign’s four-year public
phase, I will endeavor to keep you informed of campaign progress and the
emerging impact on our university. Therefore, this message initiates a
series of communications from me to all OSU faculty and staff about The
Campaign for OSU and related topics of importance to you and our
community. I’ll be sending these e-mails as news warrants and welcome
your comments and suggestions as you receive them.
Along these lines, I want to share news of two important leadership
gifts we just received.
• An anonymous donor has committed $5 million to help construct the
Student Success Center. Augmenting our existing student support
programs in Waldo Hall, this new building will house a range of academic
services that will help students as they transition to — and fully
engage with — OSU.
• Two new endowed professorships, one in forest management and another
in turf management, were established recently through a $4 million gift
from Jacqueline Giustina and the estate of her husband, the late Nat
Giustina, long-time supporter of OSU.
• In all, 24 endowed faculty positions have been created since the start
of the campaign, and more than $62 million in new commitments secured
for scholarships and fellowships.
This support for OSU faculty and students is a great illustration of the
momentum and impact of the campaign and a strong vote of confidence in
everyone associated with Oregon State. I, too, thank you for all you do
to help OSU succeed!
Sincerely,
Edward J. Ray
President
For additional information about The Campaign for OSU, visit CampaignForOSU.org.
