UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS KICKS OFF CAMPAIGN FOR THE TWENTY-FIRST CENTURY, ANNOUNCES UNPRECEDENTED $500 MILLION GOAL

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. - The University of Arkansas today kicked off the Campaign for the Twenty-First Century, the most ambitious fund-raising initiative ever undertaken by an organization in the state of Arkansas, with a goal of $500 million.

Campaign Co-Chair Tommy Boyer and UA Chancellor John White announced that $270 million in gifts and pledges - more than half of the goal amount - has already been raised in support of the Campaign since July 1, 1998.

The Campaign for the Twenty-First Century is a six-year effort to raise significant gifts from private sources for the University of Arkansas. Campaign funds are being used to help the University achieve its vision of emerging as a nationally competitive, student-centered research university serving Arkansas and the world. The Campaign began in its "quiet phase" on July 1, 1998, and will conclude on June 30, 2004. Campaign funds are being raised for six critical areas of need, to:

• Create endowed faculty positions - chairs, professorships, and fellowships to attract and retain the best teacher-scholars available. The Campaign goal for this area of need is $100 million, of which $66 million in gifts and pledges has been raised since July 1, 1998.

• Create additional scholarship funds - endowed or annually funded - for undergraduates and fellowship funds for graduate students. The Campaign goal for this area of need is to raise $114 million, of which $42 million in gifts and pledges has been raised since July 1, 1998.
• Improve existing academic programs, create new ones in key areas, strengthen academic support programs, and support new initiatives in instruction, research and service. The Campaign goal for this fund-raising objective is $100 million. Since July 1, 1998, $69 million in gifts and pledges has been raised toward this goal.

• Strengthen the University Libraries through increased endowments, collections, and holdings. The Campaign goal for University Libraries is $10 million, of which $4.1 million in gifts and pledges has been raised since July 1, 1998.
• Construct new academic facilities and attract new research and instructional equipment. The Campaign goal for this area of need has been set at $130 million. Of this goal, $79 million in gifts and pledges has been raised since July 1, 1998. This strategic objective includes building projects such as the Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium and several academic buildings.

• Increase annual giving to enhance a variety of University programs. The Campaign goal for this area of need is $20 million, of which $10.3 million in gifts and pledges has been raised since July 1, 1998. This category includes gifts that do not fall in any of the earlier categories including agricultural and non-durable products.

In addition to a 94-member volunteer Steering Committee, made up from alumni and friends from the state and nation, five prominent Arkansans have agreed to serve in volunteer leadership posts for the Campaign for the Twenty-First Century. They are:

• Rob Walton, a 1966 University of Arkansas graduate and chairman of the board of Wal-Mart Stores Inc., Bentonville. His term as presiding co-chair began July 1, 1998, and concluded June 30, 2000.
• Tommy Boyer, a 1964 UA graduate and owner and chief executive officer of Micro Images, Amarillo, Texas. He took over as presiding co-chair on July 1, 2000, and will remain as such until June 30, 2002.
• Jim Walton, a 1971 UA graduate and chairman and chief executive officer of Arvest Bank Group Inc., Bentonville. He will become presiding co-chair on July 1, 2002, and remain in his post until June 30, 2003.
• Frank Broyles, UA men’s athletic director and former head football coach. Broyles will serve as presiding co-chair the final year of the Campaign, from July 1, 2003, until June 30, 2004.
• Johnelle Hunt, corporate secretary of J.B. Hunt Transport Services Inc., Lowell. She will serve as treasurer for the duration of the Campaign.

The announcement was made at a pep-rally event featuring the Razorback Marching Band, cheerleaders, pom squad and mascots. Also in attendance were members of the Campaign Steering Committee plus many of the 100 additional Campaign volunteers serving on fund-raising committees for academic colleges, schools, support units and geographic regions. Students, faculty, staff and alumni attended the outdoor rally - held on the plaza between Mullins Library and the Arkansas Union - where picnic food was served. The winners of the student Campaign banner competition were announced and awarded cash prizes.

Speakers at today’s event included Tommy Boyer, UA alumnus and Campaign Steering Committee presiding co-chair; John A. White, UA chancellor; G. David Gearhart, vice chancellor for University Advancement; Dr. Elliott West, Distinguished Professor of History; Trent Goins, Associated Student Government President.

White said, "The private gifts produced by the Campaign will supplement our annual state appropriation, which provides the basic operating funds for the University. Private gifts raised through the Campaign will allow us to go beyond basic operations by creating the 'margin of excellence’ for the University to move up to the next level, nationally."

White continued, "In the future, I believe historians will identify this day as a defining moment, an inflection point, a turning point, for the University of Arkansas. Today, we send a message, loud and clear, to the nation’s best universities: move over! The University of Arkansas is joining your ranks; it will stand equally, shoulder to shoulder, with the best universities this nation has to offer!"

White reported that since the beginning of the Campaign in 1998, the University of Arkansas has raised funds for 28 faculty and graduate fellowships, 13 professorships and 19 endowed chairs. The Campaign also has created 218 new scholarship funds.

Boyer acknowledged the other members of the leadership team. He said, "I’d like to thank the Campaign Co-Chairs and Treasurer, along with the members of the Campaign Steering Committee and the other Campaign volunteers for sharing their time, talent, leadership and love for this institution, the University of Arkansas."

Professor West said, "I’ve been teaching for 30 years and have spent 22 of those years on faculty at the University of Arkansas. Through the years, I’ve seen an abiding commitment by the faculty and staff to support and uphold our mission of teaching, research and service. This is a unique academic village of men and women, one that I believe nurtures creativity and community. We have come here from many places and for many different reasons. But the reason we stay is because we love the University of Arkansas."

Gearhart, who served as master of ceremonies for the rally, said, "I know I speak for everyone in the Division of University Advancement when I say just how excited we are that this day has arrived. We’ve been planning for the public launch of the Campaign since July of 1998."

ASG President Goins spoke about the importance of the Campaign to students before announcing the winners of the student banner competition.

The $500 million raised by the Campaign will be used to fund endowment, capital and annual/other purposes. The goals for each purpose are illustrated below.

Campaign goals for the individual colleges, schools and support units are as follows.

More information about the Campaign for the Twenty-First Century is available on the University Web site at http://www.uark.edu/ by clicking on the Campaign wordmark. The Campaign Web site features a special publication titled "What is the Campaign for the Twenty-First Century?" written in a format designed to answer frequently asked questions about the Campaign. The Web site also includes a list of all Campaign leadership and volunteers.