Story by: WSU Office of University Communication
In August 2008, Winona State University announced its first-ever comprehensive fundraising campaign. The Light the Way Leadership Campaign seeks to raise $10 million to fund scholarships, build an Integrated Wellness Complex and secure the future of the National Child Protection Training Center.
WSU President Judith Ramaley said, “Our financial circumstances are very different from what they were even a decade ago. We still offer a first-class education, but now with just 29 percent of our funding coming from the state we must think and lead differently.”
“To continue providing high-quality, accessible education, advancing the health and well-being of our community and protecting the next generation of learners,” she continued, “it’s imperative that we increase community-based, public-private partnerships.”
Of the $10 million sought, $4 million is earmarked for scholarships. Ramaley noted that while tuition costs at Minnesota’s state universities have doubled in the past ten years, average grants increased by only a third — making higher education out of reach for many families in the region.
“Increasing funds for scholarships will ensure that a vibrant mix of students with diverse backgrounds, cultures and ideas have access to Winona State University,” Ramaley said. “This mix brings considerable value not only to Winona State and our region, but also to the economies and societies where graduates live and work.”
Another $3.5 million will be dedicated to construction of the Integrated Wellness Complex, a planned 90,000-square-foot campus facility. Upon completion the complex will support expanded academic and research programs focused on healthcare and wellness. It will also provide a platform for developing new degree programs; advance new healthcare technologies; and invite new partners, such as Winona Health and other health-promoting organizations, to collaborate with WSU students, faculty and staff.
WSU Vice President for Advancement Jim Schmidt explained the Integrated Wellness Complex will provide a new educational environment that fosters a holistic approach to wellness.
“The purpose of this facility is to create opportunities for WSU students and the community at large to improve their health and well-being,” Schmidt said. “External partnerships are critical not only for completing the facility, but also for increasing its value and impact in the region.”
Construction costs for the Integrated Wellness Complex are estimated to be $19 million. Student activity fees will provide $7.1 million toward the total and state appropriations another $8.4 million. The Light the Way Campaign seeks to raise the remaining $3.5 million.
The final $2.5 million of the campaign is designated for the National Child Protection Training Center (NCPTC). The NCPTC, which is housed at Winona State, provides training to child protection professionals across the United States. Each year, NCPTC trainers travel throughout the country and educate approximately 10,000 prosecutors, law enforcement officers, social workers and other child protection professionals and organizations.
Victor Vieth, the center’s director, said, "The National Child Protection Training Center is the only national organization that has as its goal the elimination of child abuse in the United States, and the only national organization that can back it up with a concrete, peer reviewed plan.”
“Our plan is generating significant reform throughout the country,” Vieth said, “and will, in the decades to come, impact positively on the lives of hundreds of millions of children."
The center’s efforts to date have been supported through a combination of private, foundation and government funds. The $2.5 million raised for the NCPTC through the Light the Way campaign will help expand and implement Vieth’s plan.
For more information, visit: http://www.winona.edu/alumnirelations/9591.asp.
About Winona State University
Founded in 1858, Winona State University is a comprehensive, regional public university with more than 8,000 students. The oldest member of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities System, WSU offers more than 80 undergraduate, pre-professional, licensure, graduate and doctorate programs on its three campuses: the original Main Campus in Winona, the West Campus in Winona, and Winona State University-Rochester. This year WSU celebrates 150 years as a community of learners improving our world. The sesquicentennial celebration features many events, including art exhibits, speakers, conferences and a closing ceremony in December 2008.
Last Modified: Wednesday, March 11, 2009 12:40 by Kelly Hahn
