College of Education kicks off $17 million fundraising campaign

This summer, at Navy Pier, the University of Illinois announced the “Brilliant Futures” capital campaign with a fundraising goal of $2.25 billion.  This the largest and most ambitious campaign inthehistory of the University of Illinois with the funds designated for students, faculty, research and the campus environment.  The campaign is believed to be the fourth largest fundraising campaign in history among public research universities. 

Among the three campuses, the Urbana-Champaign goal is $1.5 billion. “We have built campaign goals on the programs and initiatives articulated in the Strategic Plan, so every dollar raised in this effort will allow us to move closer to our goal of national pre-eminence,” stated Chancellor Richard Herman in a press release to campus.  During the quiet phase of the campaign which led up to the kick-off, approximately one half of the goal had been met.  The campaign is scheduled to conclude in December of 2011.

The College of Education’s goal in the campaign is $17 million. Top priorities for the College involve establishing current and endowed funds to support student scholarships, faculty chairs and professorships and to develop new programs of innovative service and research. Each unit on campus was asked to create their own theme for the campaign, and the College chose, “A Chance to Reimagine Education.”

“For over 100 years at Illinois, the excellence of Education has been built by the efforts of our faculty, staff, students and friends – our greatest assets are the people who call our College their own,” said Dean Mary Kalantzis. “Our campaign goals for this second century reflect our belief that the future of education will continue to be shaped by investing in these human resources – the men and women who change the world every day with their dedication to the field.”

The College of Education has made significant progress towards this goal. Nearly $13 million has been raised to date, with plans to publicly announce a new, 7-figure gift early in the fall. “I am humbled by the generosity of our friends and from the private sector,” said Dean Kalantzis.

Joan Tousey, Assistant Dean for Development and Alumni Relations, agrees that the contributions to the College thus far have been impressive. “Our support has come not only from our dedicated alumni base, but also from friends who may not have had a career in education, but understand the value of the College’s mission toward the betterment of society as a whole.  Because of this recognition, and the ambitious plans of our strategic initiatives, the College is speaking to an expanded audience.  I’m optimistic that when the campaign concludes, our sources of support will be extremely broad and will demonstrate the loyalty and dedication shown by so many compassionate people.”  

In the 2008 academic year, the College also plans to announce a separate campaign to raise funds to renovate, expand and re-imagine the current Education Building. Currently, the College is working in conjunction with the School of Architecture (and with Richard Williams, the original architect) to develop conceptual plans for a re-imagined Education Building and to determine the costs and the shape of the new facility.

“We know that an Education building for the 21st Century must become a true center for community learning – a place that brings together teachers, students, families and everyone who has a stake in educating our children. We will create a physical home that allows for the open collaboration and community cooperation that will define teaching and learning for this new generation,” said Kalantzis.