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Academic Update Part 32: The Endowment

Posted by ROBERTUS on February 07, 2006

ACADEMIC UPDATE!!!! (Part 32) (The Endowment)
*originally posted February 7, 2006.

Endowments, more than ever, are extremely important to colleges and universities. The importance of a strong endowment can not be understated. Endowments provide permanent funds in which an institution can draw to bolster scholarships, programs, etc. In this day and time, Public institutions must rely on strong endowments to provide stability and competition. All major universities are working hard to compete with each other. Endowment goals are a moving target as competitors realize increased tuitions, salaries, construction costs, etc. The University of Alabama will launch the public phase of an ongoing Capital Campaign to raise the endowment to over $1 billion. Only 53 colleges and universities in the United States currently have reached this landmark. It is time for OUR University to reach this plateau. Everyone can help. There is strength in numbers and, judging by UA’s history of strength among its alumni and friends, the goal will be reached.

-As noted above, a major measure of the strength of a university and the success of its alumni can be found in the level of its endowment. For instance, Harvard University is widely considered to be the top university in the United States, therefore, it is no surprise that its $25.5 billion endowment is the largest in the nation. In a recent issue (1/27/06) of The Chronicle of Higher Education, endowment rankings for the nation’s colleges and universities were released in its annual survey. The University of Alabama's endowment faired well, ranking 76th among all colleges and universities in the nation (#33 among all Public institutions). Among SEC member institutions, Vanderbilt University ranked 1st with ($2.6 billion), followed by The University of Florida ($836 million), The University of Alabama ($765 million), The University of Tennessee ($715 million), The University of Arkansas ($692 million), The University of Kentucky ($577 million), The University of Georgia ($517 million), Louisiana State University ($505 million), The University of Mississippi ($398 million), The University of South Carolina ($330 million), Auburn University ($316 million), and Mississippi State University ($211 million). Within the state of Alabama, The University of Alabama ($765 million) ranked 1st, followed by Auburn University ($316 million), The University of South Alabama ($266 million), Samford University ($255 million), Birmingham-Southern College ($114 million), and Troy University ($18 million).

-The University of Alabama’s Manderson Graduate School of Business boasted three top-10 rankings in The Princeton Review’s “Best Business Schools” guide, released in October. UA ranked 4th in the Nation for “Best Campus Facilities”, 5th for “Best Professors”, and 8th for “Best Administered”. The University of Alabama ranked ahead of schools such as Duke University and Harvard University on the “Best Professors” list; Harvard University, The University of California-Berkley, and The University of Virginia for “Best Facilities”; and Emory University in the “Best Administered” category. No other program from the state of Alabama was ranked in the report.

-The 2005 freshmen class at The University of Alabama includes a total of 145 National Scholars (72 National Merit Scholars, 13 Achievements Scholars, and 60 National Hispanic Scholars). The number of National Scholars in UA’s freshmen class has more than doubled in the last three years. Also, total enrollment at The University of Alabama reached a record high of 21,750 this Fall.

-Dr. Guy Caldwell, associate professor of Biological Sciences at The University of Alabama, was named the state of Alabama’s “2005 Professor of the Year” by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching and the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE). Dr. Caldwell was honored in Washington, D.C. in November. CASE established the Professors of the Year program in 1981 and the Carnegie Foundation became the co-sponsor a year later.

-Three students at The University of Alabama have been named winners of the prestigious and highly competitive Hollings Scholarships. Congratulations to Jacob Batson (chemistry major), Micah Bennett (biology major), and Barbara Blaylock (double major in economics and mathematics) for winning this award and making OUR university proud. The Hollings Scholarship Program is designed to improve undergraduate training in oceanic and atmospheric science, research technology, and natural resource education; increase public understanding of the importance of stewardship of the environment; prepare students for careers with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and other federal, state, and local levels of government that deal with natural resources; and improve scientific and environmental education in the United States. UA ranked among the top-5 universities in the Nation in total number of recipients for the scholarship.

-Jason E. Roberts, a student in the Master of Music program at The University of Alabama, has been awarded a Fulbright Scholarship to study musicology in Romania for the 2005-2006 school year. The prestigious Fulbright Scholarship is an international exchange program created in 1946 to build mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the rest of the world. Students are chosen on their academic or professional achievements and leadership in their specific fields of interest.

-Previous ACADEMIC UPDATES (Parts 13, 14, 16, 17, 19, 21, 22, 24, 28, 29, and 31) have listed many successful UA alums that have made a name for themselves in the current business world. The following is a list of a half-dozen more alums that are successful in their fields.

* Ed Aldag- CEO of Medical Properties Trust
* Don Ruggles- President and CEO of Martin Supply Company, Inc.
* Bryan Godwin- President and CEO of Isochron, LLC.
* Marillyn Hewson- President of Kelly Aviation
* Paul Clark- President and CEO of ICOS Corporation
* Michael Reilly- President and CEO of Randall Publishing Company

As you can see, The University of Alabama is producing winners on every level. The time is now for you to help. When you receive a call from The University in the near future, be sure to answer. As always, ROLL TIDE FOREVER!!!!!