KU Endowment provides record support to University

Dear Colleagues,

As every Jayhawk knows, the 2007-08 academic year was filled with victories and accomplishments by our students, faculty and staff.

Championships were won and No. 1 rankings secured by our academic programs and athletic teams, and the reputation of the University of Kansas as a place where high achievers in all fields gather was enhanced. As we say on the poster that now hangs in the offices and homes of Jayhawks throughout the nation, it was "One Great Year."

Now, we have another accomplishment to celebrate.

Today KU Endowment announced that it had its best year ever, not only in terms of the amount of financial support it provided to the university, but also when it comes to the number of Jayhawks who pledged their support to KU.

During its fiscal year ending June 30, KU Endowment provided $112.1 million to KU - an 18 percent increase over the previous year.

This was made possible by the generosity of a record number of donors - 45,014 - who supported KU last year. Of these donors, 25,854 are Kansans, 7,932 were first-time donors and 1,531 were KU faculty or staff members.

The support provided by these Jayhawks benefits all aspects of our mission, starting with the education of our students. More than 6,500 students receive support from KU Endowment through scholarships, fellowships, awards and loans - $32.2 million in all.

Donors created 43 new endowed scholarships last year alone. These new scholarships, when coupled with the existing programs, will help even more students achieve their dream of a KU education.

In addition to helping students directly, KU Endowment's support for faculty and staff helps create the vibrant teaching and research environment that one expects at an international research university.

Faculty support last year totaled $19.6 million, going to support more than 80 professorships and helping fund excellence in teaching and research. That effort will be enhanced by 11 new professorships that were created over the past year, helping KU attract and retain top scholars and researchers.

Additionally, three major construction projects were completed this year thanks to Endowment support: the Sabatini Multicultural Resource Center, Krehbiel Scholarship Hall and the Anderson Family Football Complex.

KU could not fulfill its mission of teaching, research and service without the work of our faculty and staff, the support of our state and the generosity of the tens of thousands of Jayhawks and friends who have made gifts to the university.

On behalf of all Jayhawks past, present and future, we'd like to thank everyone who helps make KU the home to so many champions.

Sincerely,
Bob Hemenway
Chancellor

Dale Seuferling
President
KU Endowment