Campaign Progress

Towson University's capital campaign, Growing a University, has exceeded its goal and concluded a seven-year effort to raise $50 million for student scholarships, academic programs, and community outreach.

"Achieving this important goal not only creates opportunities at Towson University," says Interim President Marcia Welsh. "It also signifies the university's entrance into its next phase of development and climb to academic excellence."  

In addition to providing enrichment for student scholars and university faculty, the funds raised by the Growing a University campaign have expanded the Towson University Foundation, which grew from $13 million to $41.6 million during the course of the campaign.

"Building endowment for a university helps to provide a solid foundation for the future of our students, academic initiatives and community partnerships," says Gary Rubin, vice president for University Advancement.

"With the tremendous support of alumni, faculty, staff, community supporters, foundations and corporations, we have had unprecedented fundraising success during a time that has been economically challenging." 

UMUC announced in July that The Campaign for UMUC: Building a Legacy of Educational Opportunities has surpassed its goal of $26 million. The campaign-part of the University System of Maryland's federated fundraising initiative-reached its goal in March, and by the end of the fiscal year, had surpassed the goal by almost $500,000.

The university reached its goals thanks to several significant gifts. Most notable, perhaps, was a wholly anonymous $6 million gift that the university received in 2009.  Other notable donations include:

• Two generous gifts in 2004 from Dr. Donald S. Orkand, a long-time member of the university's Board of Visitors, and his wife, Mrs. Kim L. Orkand, established an endowed fund for undergraduate scholarships and also created the Orkand Endowed Chair in Management and Technology in UMUC's Graduate School.
• In 2005, UMUC received a gift in kind from the Oracle Corporation of software and technical support, valued at more than $2 million.
• Late last year, the Kresge Foundation awarded UMUC a $1.2 million grant that will allow UMUC to develop an extensive data mining initiative to support student retention.
• On April 2, 2011, University of Maryland University College hosted a highly successful cybersecurity gala, An Evening in Cyberspace: Supporting Tomorrow's Cybersecurity Leaders. The gala raised more than $1.2 million from generous donor support, with proceeds designated for cybersecurity scholarships. ManTech International Corp. was the gala's lead sponsor, donating $250,000.  

See UMUC's announcement  for the full story.

The Council for the Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) reports: 

John S. Toll, Ph.D., 87, prominent physicist and academic administrator, passed away July 15.  Dr. Toll led the consolidation of the five-campus University of Maryland System with the six campuses of the Maryland Board of Trustees of State Colleges and Universities in 1988, creating the current University System of Maryland.  He was the first chancellor of the USM. 

Dr. Toll was born in Denver, Co., in 1923. He earned his bachelor's degree at Yale with highest honors, then served in the Navy during WWII, and returned from the War to earn his doctorate at Princeton.  At the age of 29, he became chair of the physics department at MUniversity of Maryland, which is now named for him. During his tenure, he raised the profile of the physics department to national prominence. 

Newsday listed him among '100 Who Shaped the Century.'  He is survived by his wife of more than 40 years, Deborah Taintor Toll, as well as two daughters and a grandson.