Why State Support is Not Enough
Visualize a map of the University of Utah and a list the U's academic and community programs. Now take away those facilities and programs funded in whole or in part by contributions from alumni and friends. The map and the list would diminish by nearly half.
That's how important gifts are to the University of Utah. The State of Utah provides our core funding for teaching and research, but without gifts, grants, and contracts - along with tuition and student fees - this institution would not rank among the leading state universities in the nation. In many areas, the U has achieved national or worldwide prominence, and that level of excellence is tied directly to its level of private support.
How Private Support Keeps the University of Utah Accessible
By any measure, student tuition and fees are a bargain at Utah's flagship institution of higher education. Nevertheless, the costs of attending any university or college in America increased by over seven percent in 2001. To ensure that all students who are qualified and who wish to attend the University of Utah can do so, the breadth and depth of our scholarship program must be enlarged. The U's alumni and friends can make this goal achievable.Why Alumni Support is Important
The University of Utah's most vital investment is in its students who in turn become graduates, now over 170,000 strong. However, the number of alumni who have contributed to the "U" in recent years registers around just 10 percent, below the average of our peer institutions. Greater alumni participation will produce two significant results:
- Enriched, additional resources for our students and faculty
- Higher rankings for the "U" among America's universities and colleges.
