KINGSPORT – The Campaign for ETSU Tomorrow has exceeded its $100 million goal, East Tennessee State University President Dr. Paul E. Stanton Jr. announced during the (Feb. 1) annual dinner for the university's biggest donors.
“Everyone here played a role in the success of East Tennessee State University's first-ever capital campaign. Congratulations!” Stanton exclaimed to the more than 330 members of the Distinguished President's Trust gathered at MeadowView Conference Resort and Convention Center.
During the university's first public announcement of the campaign's success, Stanton praised the efforts of retired First District Congressman James H. Quillen, who served as honorary chair of the Campaign for ETSU Tomorrow, and campaign co-chairs Stuart E. Wood Jr. and Wayne Basler. “Their leadership during the planning stages and throughout the public phase of the campaign continues to be exemplary,” Stanton said.
Support from businesses and individuals, in addition to the participation of ETSU faculty, staff and alumni, is another critical factor. “Every person who makes a gift to the campaign forms or strengthens a partnership with ETSU,” Stanton said. “This unified commitment will enable us to achieve our goal of becoming the best regional university in the nation.”
The Campaign for ETSU Tomorrow will remain under way until the end of the university's current fiscal year, a point Stanton emphasized to the crowd. “Please don't let tonight's announcement signal a close of the campaign effort,” he said. “Between now and June 30, we will continue seeking new partners. The final Campaign for ETSU Tomorrow total will include all gifts and pledges received during the next six months. I challenge you to continue to exceed a goal many said could not be reached.”
Initial estimates from the consultant who conducted a feasibility study to measure potential campaign support indicated $30 million was the most the university could hope to raise. However, when ETSU kicked off the campaign in 1997, Stanton declared an even higher “stretch” goal of $40 million.
Stanton credits his confidence to the encouragement received from community leaders during the early stages of the campaign effort. Once the Campaign for ETSU Tomorrow was publicly announced, unprecedented financial support was received from individuals and businesses throughout the region.
A little more than two years into the five-year effort, the campaign goal was increased to $50 million. When the gift total soon exceeded $56 million, Stanton raised the bar again to $75 million for what was termed an “Encore Performance.” Several new projects were added to the campaign's focus on quality education; teaching, research and service; science, technology and medicine; and featured facilities.
A record giving total during 2000-01, which brought the campaign balance to $85 million at the end of its fourth year, inspired Stanton to increase the goal one more time to $100 million during the annual meeting of the ETSU Foundation members. On Oct. 2, 2001, ETSU announced the campaign had crossed the $90 million mark, an achievement that coincided with the university's 90th birthday.
The list of benefits from the campaign is long. More than 70 new endowments have been established through the Campaign for ETSU Tomorrow. “These endowments will provide additional funds for scholarships, faculty research and facilities improvements,” said Dennis T. Powell, president of the ETSU Foundation. “More than $3.5 million in scholarship funds have been awarded to ETSU students by the university foundation since the campaign's inception in 1997.”
A $20 million partnership between ETSU and Parametric Technology Corp. of Newport Beach, Calif., was also developed during the campaign. Funds from Parametric equipped computer stations in the new Scott M. Niswonger Digital Media Center located across the street from ETSU, adjacent to the Adelphia Centre at Millennium Park in Johnson City. Niswonger, a member of the ETSU Foundation, made a $1.5 million gift to the campaign, one of the largest gifts from an individual in ETSU's history. The university has received national and international acclaim for its digital media design program, and currently has a waiting list of students who want to enroll.
The Campaign for ETSU Tomorrow has received national, regional and state recognition. The most recent honor is an award from the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) in district competition. District III includes more than 550 colleges and universities throughout the Southeast.
Dr. Richard A. Manahan, vice president for university advancement and executive vice president of the ETSU Foundation, attributed ETSU's success in fund raising to three principles: longevity of key volunteer leadership, and university personnel working together as a team; strong, expert volunteer involvement in investment policies of the ETSU Foundation; and active involvement of academic leaders throughout the institution.