The University is launching a new annual way for faculty and staff to support Carolina, beginning March 1.
The University Campaign is an annual direct-mail appeal to provide all employees the opportunity to give to any department, school or program for any purpose they choose, said Rachel Windham who co-chairs this year's drive with James Peacock. Windham is director of business and finance in the School of Dentistry and past chair of the Employee Forum, and Peacock is Kenan professor of anthropology and past chair of the faculty.
"Employees are an unbelievable source of strength to this University in the work they do and the financial contributions they make," Windham said.
"No one knows better than we do where the University needs help--and how much good we can do by giving," she said. "That's why I continue to give to the University. It's a great satisfaction to see my gifts make a difference."
Peacock said, "It makes a world of difference to be recognized for outstanding work. Private money provides the spark, the difference between being just adequate and being much more."
Peacock pointed to his department, where a colleague just won a Tanner Award for outstanding teaching and where, each year, outstanding anthropology students are awarded prizes established by former students and by the families of former faculty members.
The last time employees were asked to give to the University was during its six-year Bicentennial Campaign, which ended in 1995 with more than $440 million raised.
"Those funds provided a great boost to Carolina, but there are many areas where needs still exist," Windham said.
In the Bicentennial campaign, University employees gave where their interests were strongest. A geography professor, for example, contributed to the map collection in the Academic Affairs Library, and a medical school faculty member established a visiting professorship in his specialty, nephrology.
Many faculty members, recognizing that graduate students are under-funded, contributed to graduate fellowships in their departments. University staff at all levels gave strong support to the staff training and development fund. And many employees gave to units that enrich their lives outside of work--or their children's lives--such as the Ackland Art Museum, N.C. Botanical Garden, Morehead Planetarium and WUNC radio.
During the six-year campaign, employees contributed a total of $9.9 million in amounts ranging from $5 to six and seven figures.
In the upcoming University Campaign, all employees will receive a campaign brochure on or shortly after March 1, inviting them to give. There will be no personal solicitations. Employees can give by the most convenient method: personal check, Visa or Mastercard, or payroll deduction.
The names of employees who give by April 10 will be listed in an honor roll of donors to be published in the Gazette.
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