Capital Campaign
When the University successfully closed the forever better: Ensuring the Mission Campaign at the end of 2008, the University's leadership, in concert with the Board of Trustees, developed an updated Action Plan 2009-2015 that, in part, focused on physical plant projects during that time period. Keeping the campus updated and maintaining state-of-the-art facilities plays an important part in attracting prospective students to the campus as well as providing quality living environments, places to study, do research, and to recreate.
Campus Master Plan-Phase II
Achieving the Dream
Phase II of the Campus Master Plan involves updating the current plan in response to student interests and needs. Several elements of the plan will require new infusions of capital beyond what can be provided by the University's annual operating budget or endowment income. The following projects are key areas where major support will be needed to fully implement the Achieving the Dream Campaign (2009-2015):
- Construction of a Performing Arts and Campus Center (completion is scheduled for May 2013)
- Design and construction of new suite-style residence halls for undergraduate students
- Restoration of Alumni Hall
- Design and construction of a new Seminary/office building
- Renovation of Severance, Blades, and Van Vliet Halls
As part of the Achieving the Dream Campaign, the University must also strengthen its endowment. Establishing new academic programs, attracting and retaining excellent faculty and providing a high-quality, affordable education for students requires financial stability. A robust endowment is the key to securing a strong and dynamic future for UD.
- Performing Arts, Worship, and Campus Center programming and maintenance
- Perpetual maintenance of campus buildings and grounds
- Keeping pace with technology
- Student Scholarships
- Character Scholarships (25)
- Faculty Chairs (10)
- Diamond Initiative
To make a gift to the University in support of a capital or endowment project, please contact the Advancement Office at 800.483.2586, 800.4UD.ALUM.
Completed Campaigns
Campus Master Plan-Phase I
forever better: Ensuring the Mission
The University of Dubuque completed its largest and most successful capital campaign, forever better, on December 31, 2008 with a record $128 million in gifts contributed by over 4,700 donors. In 1998, during the early stages of the University's Transformation, adoption of the Mission, Vision and Action Plan 2008 set the stage for the campaign as it identified the opportunities for the future that could be realized through exceptional financial support, institutional focus, and commitment to the University's Mission.
At the conclusion of the forever better campaign, an ambitious list of goals for the University's programs and facilities had been accomplished: endowment had grown from $19 million in 2000 to over $73 million in 2007, enrollment had tripled to over 1,500 students, full-time teaching faculty had doubled and new facilities had been completed, including: the University Science Center, the Charles C. Myers Library, the Charles and Romona Myers Center, the Chlapaty Recreation & Wellness Center.
New campus housing for seminary families, Seminary Village, and undergraduate students, University Park Village, had also been completed as part of the development of the South Campus along Highway 20. Other features of the South Campus development included a new main entrance to the campus on Highway 20, University Parkway, marked by the Colon Colonnade as well as the Oyen Soccer Field.
The success of the Mission, Vision and Action Plan was evident in the transformed and renewed campus physical plant and the strengthening of the University's academic programs.
Charles and Romona Myers Center
In 2006, the University broke ground on the Charles and Romona Myers Center. Charles and Romona Myers' generous gift to the University provided more than $8 million of the $9 million cost of the Center. It houses the departments of Business, Admissions, Student Financial Planning, University Relations, Registrar, Student Accounts, Wendt Center, and the Office of the President. The main level lobby is named to commemorate Steffens Hall, the University's "Old Main" which was razed in 1982. Many political candidates have spoken in Steffens Hall, even in its fairly short history. The lower level provides classroom space.
University Science Center
In 2007, the University began a complete renovation of and addition to Goldthorp Hall, the main science facility on campus. With generous leadership gifts and strong federal support for the science programs through the active endorsement of the Iowa Congressional delegation, $15 million was raised to underwrite the addition of a new Mary Chlapaty Wing and the renovation of the Goldthorp Wing of the University Science Center.
The University has a distinguished record of educating students in environmental science, science education, and health-related professions. The completed Science Center provides current and future students and their professors with critical classroom, clinical and laboratory facilities. Students will be able to continue working with faculty mentors on collaborative research projects. New facilities with state-of-the-art equipment will prepare them to move with confidence into careers as science teachers, nurses, environmental scientists, or into graduate or professional schools.
Chlapaty Recreation & Wellness Center
The Chlapaty Recreation and Wellness Center, completed in 2008, was made possible with a generous gift of $22 million from Joe and Linda Chlapaty. Joe, a C'68 graduate and chair of the Board of Trustees, and his spouse, Linda, believe in giving back and, as success in business grew, so did their support of Joe's alma mater. Many alumni followed Joe and Linda's lead and contributed to the campaign to honor past coaches and athletes. The facility is an 87,000 square foot, handicap accessible facility that includes:
- a 6900 square foot, 2-level fitness center including areas for cardiovascular workout and free weights/machines;
- a 200 meter, 6-lane indoor track with synthetic flooring for fitness walking and performance;
- 4 multi-use courts nested in the center of the track for intramurals and indoor practices;
- a 16 foot-wide concourse running the length of the facility, overlooking the track and courts;
- home, visitor, officials and faculty/staff locker rooms; a juice bar/lounge area;
- a football stadium including a lighted field; a synthetic field turf surface, new outdoor track; east side visitor seating and an expanded concessions area.
The Center provides a place for students, faculty and staff to nurture their health and wellness as well as participate in rewarding sports activities, helping them become well rounded community members. Since its opening in 2008, the center has played host to the USA Archery World Team Indoor Trials for the Olympics, among other local and regional sporting events.
Growing the Student Body and the Endowment
In addition to these capital improvements during the forever better Campaign, the University tripled its student body, doubled its faculty and added new academic and extra-curricular programs. After a hiatus, the University was able to reinstate its Nursing program in 2003 and re-engaged students in its choir, band and theater programs. It also dramatically grew the endowment which provides additional scholarships for students as well as a solid financial foundation for the entire University.
