At the annual December meeting of alumni leaders in New York City, Hamilton College's board of trustees announced that the institution has received more than $100 million in gifts toward its $175 million capital campaign goal. Publicly announced at last December's alumni meeting, the Excelsior Campaign is focused on raising funds for several major initiatives. Campaign priorities include support for new and expanded campus facilities, scholarships and faculty development.
"More than the actual dollar level of contributions, this extraordinary level of generosity will have a transformative impact on the college, enabling it to offer faculty and students outstanding opportunities, said Jeff Little, a member of the board of trustees and a 1971 Hamilton graduate. "Our focus on increasing endowed scholarships will offer future students unprecedented access.
"Renovations of key facilities will create spaces that will promote the faculty-student interaction for which Hamilton is already known and will ensure the college's competitiveness among premier liberal arts schools," said Little, who also chaired The New Century Campaign, the college's last capital campaign that raised $109 million. The Excelsior Campaign, which was launched publicly with $80 million in gifts and pledges, is scheduled to conclude in June 2008.
For many years, Hamilton College has had one of the highest alumni fund participation rates among colleges and universities. In 2005, 53 percent of Hamilton alumni contributed to the fund, ranking the College in the top 1 percent in participation. A record total of $5.45 million was contributed by alumni, parents and friends.
"The Annual Fund allows us to ensure the level of excellence for which Hamilton is known, said President Joan Hinde Stewart. "It is the College's legacy fund, a means for the past to ensure the future."
In January faculty and students will begin using the college's new Art History Center, formerly one of the homes owned by the Root family. This new center is the first step in the implementation of the Excelsior Campaign's arts facilities plan.
