Assessing Our Needs for the New Millennium

“Institutional planning for a capital campaign provides an exciting opportunity for the University community,” said President Frank Mertz. “It allows us to consider what we might accomplish on our campuses and in our colleges with a significant infusion of ‘new’ money.”

In a strategic development process led by Paula Hooper Mayhew, campus provost, T-H, and assisted by the Office of Institutional Advancement, FDU has mailed priority request forms to deans, directors and department heads on which they are to identify their priorities. They are requested to identify realistic funding opportunities, prepare a “case statement” for each and suggest potential funding sources. Completed priority request forms must be sent to Mayhew by February 15. “We need to know what you might hope to implement in your department were the funds available to do so,” wrote Mayhew in a letter sent with the forms. 

Once the data are compiled, they will be shared with the provosts and deans so that each can be aware of what others have identified as major goals and objectives. A committee soon will be formed to review and analyze the requests, and a draft report will be presented to the Board of Trustees in April.

President Mertz said that funding possibilities range from building an alumni annual fund that provides the unrestricted income necessary to enhance every aspect of student and campus life, to endowed chairs, scholarship support, faculty development and research, library enhancements, technological projects and capital improvements. 
 Mertz noted that identified needs should be consistent with the University and campus mission statements and fit into the long-range strategic plans for the respective campuses. “Our needs should not be a wish list, but rather the result of a thoughtful comprehensive exercise that respects the path we collectively have chosen for FDU.” 

He added, “I am confident that, working together, we can identify what FDU requires to ensure our continuing success. Then we will face the task of identifying the resources needed to meet our needs.” 

 
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