Campaign Funding Priorities
Capital Improvements
Science Center Renovation & Addition
One of the key aspects of a traditional liberal arts education is the existence of
strong science offerings in the curriculum. As McKendree attracts students with ever
stronger academic credentials, the demand for expanding academic programs in the sciences
and mathematics, and the need for state-of-the-art laboratory space and equipment,
has increased. It is imperative that we provide students and the excellent faculty
who teach in the sciences with the tools they need to excel and to continue to attract
and retain the most academically talented students.
Voigt Science Hall requires significant renovation and an addition to meet the needs
of our students and to keep pace with the scientific advances that drive the curriculum
in contemporary college science programs. The renovated building will feature smaller
classrooms and labs designed to allow the space to adapt to the needs of the course,
dedicated student research space, conference space, a rooftop observatory, faculty
offices, and informal meeting spaces that will foster interdisciplinary work and collaboration
among students and faculty. The renovation will also allow the use of updated equipment
and technology by upgrading the electrical capabilities of the building. Faculty and
students will no longer be hindered by electrical demands of new equipment on an old
building.
An addition on the north end will provide a much-needed expansion to the building.
It will house new, state-of-the-art classrooms and laboratory space, as well as a
large lecture hall appropriate for guest lecturers and distinguished speakers that
visit our campus. This addition will also feature a formal entrance to the building
that will ensure that all who use it know they are entering a space where science,
engineering, and mathematics are being mastered.
Library Renovation
Since Holman Library was originally built in 1969, library services have evolved dramatically.
The services that modern college libraries must provide now go well beyond the books
and periodicals historically found in traditional libraries. Technology has transformed
libraries into hubs for the electronic exchange of information.
The renovation of the Holman Library will enhance the capabilities of the library
in important new ways. Expanded computer lab facilities will provide an improved study
and research environment for students and faculty, transforming the library into the
center for the exchange of electronic data and information. The development of a state-of-the-art
conference and lecture room will allow for video conferencing and webinar capabilities
for both student instruction and faculty training purposes.
Campus Wide Capital Improvements
One of the great legacies of McKendree University is its venerable history. We are
indeed proud of our founding as the first college in Illinois and we cherish our rich
history. Three of our most significant structures on the front campus are in need
of major renovation. Old Main, Clark Hall, and Carnegie Hall are not only iconic structures
on the campus, but are heavily utilized every day as classroom and office facilities.
The historical and vital nature of these buildings requires us to provide for their
structural integrity now so that they can continue to meet the needs of coming generations
of students.
Endowed Support
Scholarships
Scholarship funds for students are among the highest priorities of the University.
Our commitment to seeking significantly more endowed scholarship funds is driven by
our desire to ensure that rising tuition rates do not threaten to put a high quality,
value centered liberal arts education like that offered by McKendree, out of reach
for some families. At McKendree we are exceedingly proud to have been consistently
recognized as a great value for students, providing an excellent education at a tuition
rate that is manageable financially. The University must continue to provide support
to academically talented students who are in need of financial aid to continue their
education. Endowed scholarship funds provide both need-based and merit-based financial
aid to help offset the cost of tuition. Through the Campaign, the University intends
to increase the number of scholarships available to our students.
Faculty Chairs
Endowed faculty chairs are crucial for recruiting and retaining high-quality faculty
as they show the University’s dedication to academics. An endowed faculty chair is
both an honor to the faculty member who holds the position and a tribute to the donor
who establishes it. Endowed professorships are established in academic disciplines
that are currently part of the McKendree University curriculum.
GIVE NOW
General Unrestricted Support
Gifts to the Annual Fund are crucial to the ongoing financial well-being of the University
because they bridge the gap between tuition and the cost of the McKendree experience.
Nothing is more vital to the operations of the University than unrestricted support
that can be used to fund the programs and services of the highest priority, such as
faculty and staff salaries, professional development, library acquisitions, classroom
and laboratory equipment, and student co-curricular activities.
