On Sept. 15, Geneseo launched the public phase of a national capital campaign called Shaping Lives of Purpose with the goal of raising $22 - $25 million, the largest fundraising endeavor in Geneseo’s history.
The launch event was held at Gotham Hall in New York City and was attended by 440 alumni, parents and friends.
“It was the most significant alumni event in the history of the college,” said Michael Catillaz, vice president of college advancement.
For the past few years, the college has been in the leadership gift phase of the campaign, receiving donations mostly from alumni, parents and friends.
“Now the public phase of the campaign will last through fall of 2012,” said Catillaz.
So far about $16.65 million have been raised.
“This campaign is not about bricks and mortar; it’s not about building,” said Catillaz. “It’s targeting student-focused objectives.”
The campaign focuses on raising money in five areas: the Center for Inquiry, Discovery and Leadership; Scholarships; Academic Innovation and Faculty Support; Global Education; and Athletics.
The Geneseo Foundation, a board of about 29 alumni who lead efforts on behalf of the college, is sponsoring the campaign events. Eighteen regional committees are coordinating events across the country.
According to President Christopher Dahl, the events are focused on what makes a Geneseo education great. Alumni and faculty speak on behalf of the school, stressing the importance of private funding so that Geneseo students can continue receiving the opportunities they deserve.
“I told stories about the kinds of things we do at Geneseo,” said history professor Bill Cook, who spoke at the event in New York City. “I told some stories about people who were able to do wonderful things that they wouldn’t have been able to do without private money at Geneseo.” Cook used the example of Humanities I in Italy, which costs more than a year’s tuition.
“If we want to do good things for our students, we need to remember that we’ll only be able to do it for some of the students unless we have private money,” he said. “Only those who can afford not to have a job for the summer, or not to work in the dining halls … my goal would be that any opportunity that Geneseo offers to any student, we need to offer to every student who’s able to take advantage of it, regardless of their ability to pay.”
Opportunities like study abroad and undergraduate research, however, are not supported by the state budget.
“The special things we do that make us Geneseo are not line items in the state budget,” said Dahl. “We go out and get the money we need.”
“Since we’re a public liberal arts college, there are going to be a lot of people who say they already contribute,” said Cook. “This is not a sufficient way of supporting the institution … that’s no longer an acceptable answer, if it ever was.”
“We really need to take our future into our own hands,” said Dahl. “State funding at the level in the 1970s and ‘80s is never going to return. If we’re going to do the special things that only Geneseo can do … we’re going to have to raise private funds and we’re going to have to create endowments.”
“This is a very significant event in the life of the college,” said Catillaz. “It’s the most ambitious campaign in the college’s history. Now with the change in state funding … the importance of private funds coming to address these areas of student life are more important than ever.”
So far, the campaign has been well received.
“I’ve been encouraged by what other faculty members have said to me,” said English professor Ron Herzman, co-chair of the faculty-staff campaign. “There seems to be a real sense that this is important … faculty and staff participation is enormously helpful … we need to make sure that the faculty is seen as the important components of the campaign … It suggests that we’re all in this together.”
In addition to alumni and faculty/staff support, students will be called upon to aid the campaign. According to Catillaz, the Foundation has agreed to commit $20,000 of its own money if undergraduate students can match the donation. The challenge hasn’t been announced yet and the board will be working with the Student Association to try to reach the goal.
The board is also in the early stages of developing a network of students who will drive the student component of the campaign.
“We have yet to organize a group of students to lead the component,” said Catillaz. “That will be taking shape this semester.”
“I think it’s great that the school is self-advocating for what it believes in,” said senior Richelle Aretakis. “We pay a lot of money to come to Geneseo because we believe it suits us. The campaign is sending a big message to Albany and the country; we value our education.”