To put it simply, Stanford
wants to change the world.
Seeking to bring together the
University’s resources
to attack what President John Hennessy called “the century’s
most pressing global challenges,” Stanford in October
launched a five-year, $4.3 billion fund-raising campaign.
“The scope and complexity of social and scientific
challenges has grown immensely in recent decades,” Hennessy
said. “I
believe Stanford is uniquely prepared among universities—by
its breadth of scholarship, entrepreneurial heritage
and pioneering faculty—to provide research and real-world
approaches to address many of these issues.”
Called
The Stanford Challenge, the fundraising effort targets
three main areas:
$1.4 billion for multidisciplinary research: in human
health, to speed the conversion of significant medical
discoveries from the lab to the clinic; in environmental
sustainability, assisting scholars in finding ways to balance
human needs with protecting the Earth’s resources; and
in international peace and security, addressing economic, social,
religious and political problems that threaten well-being worldwide.
$1.2 billion for education initiatives. The University
is increasing its commitment
to improving K-12 education and plans a broad renewal of
graduate programs, further enhancements to undergraduate
teaching, and a new emphasis on the arts. Some of the funds
will go toward increasing financial aid—including extending
need-based scholarships to international undergraduate
students—and
loan repayment assistance for graduate students who work
in public service occupations.
$1.7 billion in core support to sustain broad
strength in teaching and research.
“The Stanford Challenge
is the most forward- and outward-looking campaign in Stanford’s
history,” said Board of
Trustees chair Burt McMurtry, MS ’59, PhD ’62.
Early
gifts to the campaign total almost $2.19 billion. “We
are fortunate to have loyal alumni and friends who share
this vision about the role of Stanford in helping address
some of these critical issues,” Hennessy said.
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