Spring Break
OSU Foundation on its way to goal of $625 million
Foundation focuses on raising money to fund scholarships, expand opportunities
Katie Wolf
Issue date: 10/24/08 Section: News
In the last fiscal year, the OSU Foundation raised over $16 million, increasing the campaign total to $450 million.
A large portion of this money will be directed toward providing merit- and need-based scholarships to both undergraduate and graduate students at OSU. Other naming opportunities for the donations include faculty positions, facilities and program support.
Over the past five years, decreases in state funding have caused tuition to rise 46 percent at all Oregon public universities.
"Many of our students come from very ordinary financial circumstances, but are capable of extraordinary things that can be achieved here at Oregon State University," said OSU president Ed Ray in a video on the campaign website.
While maintaining the financial accessibility of OSU, the scholarships provided by this campaign also attract talented individuals.
"Merit-based programs, such as the Presidential Scholarship, play a key role in undergraduates' decisions to enroll - particularly for students who could have chosen schools such as Stanford, Berkeley or MIT," said the campaign website.
On Friday night, Ray spoke at an event honoring donors at the Portland Art Museum. Many contributors to the campaign are alumni of OSU who remain loyal to their alma mater. OSU has over 16 percent alumni participation, the third highest in the Pac-10.
"Inspiring intellectual curiosity and achievement makes a better world for all of us," said Jim and Cathy Guinn Rudd, parents of a student at OSU. "Endowing a Presidential Scholarship at OSU seemed like an excellent way to do that."
Private endowments remain a vital component of the financial resources of OSU.
"Today, a university must have a healthy endowment to maintain a program worthy of national and even international recognition," according to the foundation.
As the economy continues to suffer, universities across the country are beginning to feel the effects. Decreases in state and federal funding hinder universities from providing exceptional programs and opportunities. Individual contributions through campaigns such as the OSU Foundation help alleviate much of the financial stress placed on universities.
Although the campaign is quickly approaching its goal of $625 million, OSU's endowment falls behind many of its peers in the Pac-10.
Katie Wolf, staff writer
news@dailybarometer.com, 737-2231
A large portion of this money will be directed toward providing merit- and need-based scholarships to both undergraduate and graduate students at OSU. Other naming opportunities for the donations include faculty positions, facilities and program support.
Over the past five years, decreases in state funding have caused tuition to rise 46 percent at all Oregon public universities.
"Many of our students come from very ordinary financial circumstances, but are capable of extraordinary things that can be achieved here at Oregon State University," said OSU president Ed Ray in a video on the campaign website.
While maintaining the financial accessibility of OSU, the scholarships provided by this campaign also attract talented individuals.
"Merit-based programs, such as the Presidential Scholarship, play a key role in undergraduates' decisions to enroll - particularly for students who could have chosen schools such as Stanford, Berkeley or MIT," said the campaign website.
On Friday night, Ray spoke at an event honoring donors at the Portland Art Museum. Many contributors to the campaign are alumni of OSU who remain loyal to their alma mater. OSU has over 16 percent alumni participation, the third highest in the Pac-10.
"Inspiring intellectual curiosity and achievement makes a better world for all of us," said Jim and Cathy Guinn Rudd, parents of a student at OSU. "Endowing a Presidential Scholarship at OSU seemed like an excellent way to do that."
Private endowments remain a vital component of the financial resources of OSU.
"Today, a university must have a healthy endowment to maintain a program worthy of national and even international recognition," according to the foundation.
As the economy continues to suffer, universities across the country are beginning to feel the effects. Decreases in state and federal funding hinder universities from providing exceptional programs and opportunities. Individual contributions through campaigns such as the OSU Foundation help alleviate much of the financial stress placed on universities.
Although the campaign is quickly approaching its goal of $625 million, OSU's endowment falls behind many of its peers in the Pac-10.
Katie Wolf, staff writer
news@dailybarometer.com, 737-2231
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