Youngstown State University and the YSU Foundation today launched the public phase of the historic $100 million “We See Tomorrow” fundraising campaign.
“We start the public phase of this campaign at a time of great momentum for the university,” said YSU President Jim Tressel. “But as important as that progress has been, it only sets the stage for much more to come. We see a tomorrow filled with tremendous potential.”
Tressel and Jocelyne Kollay Linsalata, chairwoman of the YSU Foundation, announced that the campaign is the largest in the university’s 109-year history and has already raised $51.7 million. The YSU Foundation is the official fundraising arm of YSU.
“Youngstown State University has long served as an economic, educational and cultural driver for the Mahoning Valley,” Linsalata said. “As we look to the future, the ‘We See Tomorrow’ campaign allows us to extend our influence across the country and around the globe.”
The campaign will be launched this evening at a dinner and program at Stambaugh Auditorium in Youngstown, attended by nearly 100 university and community leaders. Major components and funding goals of the campaign are:
Student Success Center, $12 million. Tentatively planned for Jones Hall and Maag Library, with an enclosed pedestrian bridge linking the two buildings, the Student Success Center will bring together an array of services – tutorial services, academic advising, career services, health services, counseling services, and reading and study skills labs – into one location.
Mahoning Valley Innovation and Commercialization Center, $14 million. The new center, located in a former county building at the corner of Fifth and Commerce, is designed to foster cross-collaborative interdisciplinary projects between STEM, business, healthcare, the arts and other fields. The center will be affiliated with, and expand, the partnership with the Youngstown Business Incubator. It will also expand on YSU’s programs in additive manufacturing research and education.
Scholarships and Student Work Opportunities, $20 million. In order to increase the recruitment of students with excellent academic backgrounds and demonstrated leadership potential, the university said it will need additional scholarships. In addition, scholarships to support student work will, for the first time, be pursued in the campaign.
Endowed Chairs and Professorships, $15 million. According to the university, advancing excellence begins with an investment in faculty; therefore, the campaign includes opportunities to establish endowed chairs and professorships, enabling YSU to recruit and retain the best faculty in every discipline.
Campus Beautification, $10 million. Among the planned campus beautification enhancements are the rejuvenation of the Wick Avenue corridor, as well as improvements to the Lincoln and Fifth avenue corridors. In addition, the recreation area just north of Kilcawley Center will receive a facelift that will likely include a café or other student-use amenities.
Classrooms of the Future, $5 million. To provide YSU students the most advanced learning environments, the university plans to create classrooms of the future in each of YSU’s six colleges, equipped with state-of-the-art Cisco Spark Stations.
The Rich Center for Autism, $4 million. To meet increased demand for programming, this nationally-acclaimed center on the YSU campus will expand to include the second floor of Fedor Hall, doubling the square footage.
Annual Fund, $20 million. The YSU Annual Fund provides critical support to the university and every department. Diminishing operating budgets has placed an increased focus on annual philanthropic support for colleges and departments. Unrestricted funds provide flexible income to University officers, enabling them to explore new opportunities and undertake programs that may not be possible with regularly budgeted funds. Other gifts that are designated to support programs and research also help to advance excellence across the campus.
For more information on the campaign and to make a gift visit www.YSUFoundation.org… or call 330-941-3211.
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