Administration lines up early donors, seeks to develop plant fund
By KAREN FINK
News Writer
Hundreds of Saint Mary's students walk from Noble Family Dining Hall to class or their dorms every day, and they will do the same for years to come.
Ten years from now, however, they may be able to stop by the bookstore or post office in the student center before they leave the dining hall.
This new addition will be one of many campus changes to take place under the Master Plan, a decade-long project that will begin this year.
The estimated cost of the plan, including inflation, is almost $100 million. The fundraising committees hope to raise an additional 20 percent of the cost for the creation of a facilities endowment, a fund to focus on the maintenance and upkeep of the new additions.
"Presently we are in the early stages of fundraising and our focus is to introduce the project to prospective donors and [show them] what the additions will mean to the college," said Richard Russell, vice president for College Relations. "Already we have had some commitments."
In February, the College hired Bentz, Whaley & Flessner, a fundraiser-consulting firm based out of Minneapolis. The firm will help the school to develop proposals, confirm donors and decide on the best alternative in fundraising.
"The pace will pick up now with the consulting firm to help make decisions," Russell said.
With the many factors involved in fundraising, students may wonder what role they will have in the process.
"The students play a critical role in helping us get across the message about why the project is important and how it will improve the quality of the Saint Mary's experience," Russell said. "Plus, just having the prospective donors see the impressive women of Saint Mary's helps."
Russell added that he wants to quote students about the importance of the Master Plan and their experience at Saint Mary's in the fundraising materials.
The school plans to begin construction on the Welcome Center and Clubhouse later this month. Renovation on Regina Hall will begin this summer and all three projects will be completed by the start of next school year.
The entire cost of the welcome center and half of the cost of the clubhouse were donated by anonymous parents. The Parent's Council is in the process of raising the remaining funds for the clubhouse.
"We are fortunate to have such a strong donor base," said College president Marilou Eldred.
The renovations in Regina will be paid for by a plant fund.
"The plant fund is a collection of funds that the Trustees have set aside each year for the purpose of repairing and renovating the buildings and equipment on campus. It is funded by calculating the useful life of capital items purchased and then dividing that number into the cost," said Keith Dennis, vice president for Finance and Administration. "This amount is put into a separate account each year. These funds are then used to replace, repair or renovate the assets."
The Board of Trustees recently approved the use of money from the plant fund for the renovations in Regina.
The next goal in the Master Plan is the building of the student center.
"The student center is priority right now and it is the key to the other projects being able to happen," said Russell.
He went on to explain that the Master Plan works in a domino effect. Once the student center is completed, Haggar will be renovated, followed by LeMans Hall.
"I am optimistic that we will have the financial backing for the new center when the plans for it are completed," he said.
Both Russell and Dennis are pleased with the overall fundraising process so far.
"We certainly have been successful in raising funds for the Welcome Center and Clubhouse in such short time," Dennis said.
"We're pretty much on target," Russell said. "The most encouraging part of the process so far is the overwhelmingly positive feedback from people. To summarize the reactions, the people find the Master Plan great, exciting and ambitious. It is what Saint Mary's needs."
All News Stories for Friday, March 10, 2000
