By JENNA GIBSON
J Alumni News staff
A new fundraising campaign by the University of Nebraska Foundation should help the College of Journalism and Mass Communications move forward in the digital age.
In October, the university officially kicked off a campaign to raise $1.2 billion for its four campuses by December 2014. At CoJMC, the additional money will be used to update student equipment as well as to support academic programs and faculty. The goals are broad “so we can meet a lot of different needs,” said Charlyne Berens, interim dean of the college.
Berens said a major aim is financing new equipment. Newer digital cameras — both still and video — computers and software are essential for student learning as the journalism industry undergoes rapid technological changes.
The fundraising campaign is designed to capitalize on the growth the university is already experiencing. NU has its highest enrollment ever and is retaining more talented students every year, said Robb Crouch, director of public relations for the University of Nebraska Foundation.
Joanna Nordhues, director of development for the CoJMC at the foundation, agreed.
“We’re kind of seizing on an incredible momentum that the university system is experiencing,” she said. “It seems like an opportune time to launch the university even further.”
To shape the campaign, colleges, including CoJMC, have put together committees of alumni and supporters to create goals and strategies for raising money.
Lynn Roper heads the college’s campaign committee
The CoJMC campaign committee, headed by alumna Lynn Roper, is working on identifying and connecting with other alumni and friends of the college who may be willing to help, Nordhues said. Establishing personal contact with potential donors and matching them with a need that they care about is key, she said.
“We want to meet with these people, we want to build relationships with them, we want to know what they really feel passionate about,” she said. “And then we can match (the college’s) priorities with their passion.”
The last major fundraising campaign, which ended in 2000, raised $727 million for the university system. For the journalism college, that campaign was a true capital campaign, raising enough money to buy and renovate Andersen Hall, now home to CoJMC. No final target amount has been set for the college in this campaign.
Private support is crucial
But alumni support is more critical than ever. Up to 75 percent of the college’s operating expenses are paid for with private donations. And the economic downturn has had an impact.
“State funds are not going to be abundant in coming years,” Berens said. “The state support is just not going to increase.”
As states cut spending, students and parents may be concerned about the weak economy, too.
“Times are tight for the university, but times are tight for families as well,” Berens said. That means increased donations for scholarships are also an important goal of the fundraising campaign.
“I think people understand that private giving — for a variety of needs — is all the more essential if we’re going to continue to provide quality educations,” Berens said.
Nordhues also is optimistic.
“Private support has already made a tremendous difference in the college,” she said. “We’re hoping that this campaign can transform the college even further.”
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