From IWU Magazine, Summer 2009

Campaign Highlights Five Major Goals

Transforming Lives has a goal of $125 million, with nearly eight in every 10 dollars going to build the University’s endowment. Universities rely on their endowments as foundations of institutional health. They support people and programs that set a college apart — funding such areas as scholarship, research, study-abroad and internship programs for students; attracting and retaining top faculty through professorships; and supporting initiatives that enhance teaching and learning.

I. CREATING OPPORTUNITIES – Endowment for students

   $30 million is being sought to increase the number and amount of grants and scholarships awarded to promising and deserving young scholars, so that the Wesleyan promise of meeting financial need is kept alive.

II. SUPPORTING INSPIRED TEACHING – Endowment for the faculty

   $20 million will be raised to support exceptional teaching and scholarship that have been hallmarks of Illinois Wesleyan. The faculty endowment will increase the number of endowed chairs and professorships, and provide support to attract young scholars and artists.

III. PREPARING FOR THE FUTURE – Endowment for excellence

   $22 million will provide funds targeted to key priorities to increase opportunities for student-faculty collaboration and enrich the academic experience in areas critical to student success, such as writing, leadership and research.

IV. THE WESLEYAN FUND

    $26 million in annual giving will be used to provide student financial aid, and support a broad range of academic and co-curricular program needs. The Wesleyan Fund (Annual Fund) goal is to increase the number of alumni giving from fewer than one in four to one in three.

V. CAMPUS FACILITIES

   $27 million is being sought to build:

  • The Center for Instruction, a state-of-the-art building that replaces Shaw Hall and will enhance teaching and learning across the curriculum. The new building will be located on the site of Sheean Library.
  •  An expanded Theatre Arts Complex to replace McPherson Theatre. The new complex will include a larger theatre and expand classroom and support facilities to better unify the theatre arts programs, which are currently located in many different parts of campus.
  • New apartment-style student housing will be a priority, in order to respond to today’s student housing preferences and appeal to juniors and seniors who have increasingly chosen to move off campus.

The new Center for Instruction (as envisioned in the 2002 campus master plan).



Click here to learn more about the University’s Transforming Lives campaign.

Click here to read about the campaign kick off.

Click here to read stories about IWU's transforming power.