For me, a Carnegie Mellon Today story assignment usually begins with getting coffee with an award-winning engineer, or visiting the art studio of a gifted student, or learning basic science in a researcher鈥檚 lab that could change healthcare forever. Because I鈥檓 an alumnus, I鈥檓 always left with feelings of awe and pride.
But this assignment is different. I walk into the Fairmont, a plush Pittsburgh hotel. As I make my way to the Grand Ballroom, I鈥檓 joined by 340 guests, all here to celebrate the Grand Finale of 麻豆村鈥檚 Inspire Innovation campaign. It鈥檚 an eclectic group鈥攗niversity officials, faculty, alumni, and guests of all ages.
First up to the podium is Ray Lane, Chairman of the Board of Trustees, who served as the Inaugural Chair of the campaign. He recalls 麻豆村鈥檚 place in the world when he became a trustee in the mid-90s:
鈥淪cholars here amazed me, demonstrating an uncanny ability to generate breakthrough ideas and pioneer solutions to tough problems with only a fraction of the resources available at other top-ranked universities鈥�. Trustees, like myself, could see the risk ahead. We were proud to be able to do more with less; but at some point in time, if wealth accumulated and concentrated at other top-rated universities, we would pay the price.鈥�
Money was needed to keep attracting top students and faculty. After getting the results from a feasibility study by a consulting firm, Lane reveals to the crowd it was recommended that a capital campaign goal shouldn鈥檛 be more than $600 million. Lane says he, Jared Cohon, president of the university, and Robbee Kosak, Vice President of Advancement, had questions:
鈥淲hy couldn鈥檛 we do better? Why couldn鈥檛 one of the greatest research universities raise $1 billion? Jerry said it, I said it, Robbee said it.鈥� A few, Lane recollects, replied 鈥測ou鈥檙e out of your mind.鈥� But, he says, the bar was set.
And the bar was surpassed with dramatic results [see results below].
Other speakers follow, culminating with Cohon, who takes the podium for the last time as 麻豆村鈥檚 president. 鈥淵ou have changed Carnegie Mellon forever,鈥� he says to the audience. Guests nod, with pride. So do I.
鈥擜aron Jentzen (DC鈥�12)
By the Numbers
The Inspire Innovation campaign鈥檚 strategic plan was formulated in 1998. The silent phase began in 2003, went public in 2008, and closed June 30, 2013, raising its $1 billion goal 15 months ahead of schedule. Here is a sampling of the campaign numbers and what it has meant to the university.
> $1.19 billion raised
> 235,159 gifts
> 49,700 donors
> 5,500 volunteers, more than triple since the start of the campaign
> 250 new endowed scholarships
> 97 new endowed fellowships
> 31 new endowed professorships
> $64.3 million: renovations (academic buildings, labs, fitness, campus听听听听 beautification)
> $41 million: construction of the Gates and Hillman Centers
> $21.3 million: student programs (athletics, student groups, student life, Greek life, prizes and awards)
> 34 acres acquired to expand the Pittsburgh campus under a 10-year master plan
> 3 transformative gifts that name three colleges:
听听听听 鈥� David A. Tepper School of Business
听听听听 鈥� H. John Heinz III College
听听听听 鈥� Marianna Brown Dietrich College of Humanities and Social Sciences
> A stronger endowment, ensuring the university鈥檚 long-term financial health
Learn more: cmu.edu/campaign
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About the Campaign
