On Campus
Ambitious fund-raising in UH plans
By Jennifer Hiller
Advertiser Education Writer
As the University of Hawai'i wraps up its first $100 million fund-raising campaign, several other large universities are pursuing a richer goal.
The gold standard in higher-education circles has become $1 billion.
At least a dozen universities have multi-year, billion-dollar campaigns, including Massachusetts Institute of Technology, which raised $90 million in June alone.
Closer to Hawai'i, the University of Southern California is aiming for $2.2 billion and stands at $1.8 billion now. The University of California at Los Angeles is $1.5 billion along the path to its $1.6 billion goal.
It's no wonder that UH President Evan Dobelle is in California for a few days this week to drum up support from UH alumni living on the Mainland.
UH started an ambitious fund-raising campaign a few years ago and made a serious commitment to become more financially self-sufficient. Half of the battle was in compiling the alumni and supporter lists needed to make the campaign work.
With a promise of not asking for additional financing from the Legislature during the 2002 session, it seems that new initiatives at UH can only be kick-started by alumni, community or foundation contributions.
Dobelle, who started work July 2, says he won't start a concentrated campaign this early. (Although, of course, if someone wants to give money, UH is glad to have it). After some master planning and more organizing that Dobelle has promised, though, Hawai'i should expect UH to come out with a plan every bit as ambitious as what other universities are attempting.
After all, the school's 100th anniversary is just around the corner in 2007. It's the prime date on which to hook a major fund-raising campaign.
College Hill renovation
With the continuing renovation of College Hill, the traditional home of the UH president, Dobelle and his family remain in temporary quarters. College Hill is undergoing a $172,000 renovation that began when former President Kenneth Mortimer moved out at the end of June.
The work started with a giant termite tent covering the historic home and will include new air-conditioning units, paint, electrical work, reroofing, new lighting and remodeling the guest cottage into an office for Dobelle.
The UH Foundation is shouldering most of the cost of the work, as well as the cost of housing the Dobelle family in a condo until this fall when work on College Hill should be completed.
Dobelle's office at UH cost about $71,000 to remodel as part of a Bachman Hall revamping that is making room for the recently created Manoa chancellor position. Dobelle's office includes a stand-up desk along one wall, a grouping of chairs in the middle of the room and a wall of bookshelves to be filled with faculty writings.
Board of Regents
UH has a new chairman of the Board of Regents. Regent Allan Ikawa, who headed the school's presidential search effort and is the former vice chairperson of the board, was elected last week.
Lily Yao, the former chairperson, left last month when her eight-year term ended and is now leading the Chamber of Commerce of Honolulu.
Reach Jennifer Hiller at jhiller@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8084.
