The 2008 Faculty and Staff Annual Campaign achieved a record participation rate of 37 percent. This is twice the participation rate of 2007. The importance of this achievement can be seen in multiple areas.
First, the support given will stay on the St. Thomas campus. Whether it was for student financial aid, an academic-department priority or the unrestricted annual fund, every gift will benefit the university and its students.
Second, as St. Thomas approaches foundations and corporations with grant requests, a common question is, “What is your on-campus participation in giving?” With many colleges and universities having participation rates in the 30s, now St. Thomas can show similar numbers. Before this year, participation rates were stagnant in the mid to upper teens.
Finally, with the Opening Doors campaign having been launched publicly last October, the public is looking for signals from the St. Thomas community regarding the worthiness of the effort. Faculty and staff participation sends a loud and clear signal that the people of St. Thomas are fully behind the priorities of the campaign.
Congratulations to the following schools and departments that achieved participation rates of 50 percent or more during the faculty and staff annual campaign:
School of Social Work (100 percent)
School of Engineering (100 percent)
School of Law Faculty (100 percent)
Institutional Advancement (92 percent)
Student Affairs (81 percent)
College of Applied Professional Studies (75 percent)
Human Resources (68 percent)
Enrollment Services (64 percent)
The 2009 Faculty and Staff Annual Campaign is just around the corner. Who’s ready to set a new record?