wfn.org | Africa University needs money

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"UNITED METHODIST DAILY NEWS" by SUSAN PEEK on Aug. 11, 1991 at 13:58 Eastern,
about FULL TEXT RELEASES FROM UNITED METHODIST NEWS SERVICE (3205 notes).

Note 3205 by UMNS on Oct. 3, 1996 at 16:03 Eastern (5874 characters).

SEARCH: Africa, university, endowment, funds, development,
education, financial, money
Produced by United Methodist News Service, official news agency of
the United Methodist Church, with offices in Nashville, Tenn., New
York, and Washington.

CONTACT: Linda Green                          491(10-31-71B){3205}
         Nashville, Tenn. (615) 742-5470              Oct. 3, 1996

$50 million endowment needed 
for Africa University by year 2000

     NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UMNS)-- If Africa University is to fulfill
its mission, an endowment of $50 million must be raised by the
year 2000. 
     That was the message the school's fundraising committee
received during its annual meeting here Sept. 27-28 from the top
official of the churchwide Board of Higher Education and Ministry.
     The Africa University Development Committee was established
in 1993 by the Africa University Board of Directors as a
subcommittee of its Committee on Finance and Institutional
Development.  
     The 38-member development committee works with the Africa
University Development Office here and with affiliated governing
and promotional agencies of the United Methodist Church to raise
money for the capital, endowment and operational needs of the
university.  Assistant vice chancellor for development, with
offices here, is James Salley.
     Africa University's stated mission is to "provide higher
education of high quality, to nurture students in Christian
values, and to help the nations of Africa achieve their
educational and professional goals."
     During the annual development committee meeting, the Rev.
Roger Ireson, top executive for the Board of Higher Education and
Ministry, told committee members that raising Africa University's
endowment is "critical to its success."
     By the year 2000, or at least the year 2004, an endowment of
$50 million will be needed "or the University will fail," he
warned.   
     Now that the dream has been planted, buildings are under 
construction and faculty and students are in place, Ireson said
fund-raising by the development committee is a critical next
phase.
     Since 1992, the school's endowment has grown to more than $10
million, he reported. The development office was praised for
creating a wealth in excess of $14 million that has been used for
capital projects, including buildings, designated scholarships and
other special projects.   
     He told the committee that raising an endowment for the
university's capital and operations is important because the
school will not be able to rely on major monetary gifts from its
alumni for at least 50 years into the next century.  He also
warned that support through the denomination's apportionment
system would eventually cease.  
     Like other schools, Africa University will never be able to
depend on state funding or have a tuition-driven academic system,
Ireson said, because the majority of students will need full or
partial scholarship assistance.
     Although students have been asked to make financial
contributions toward their education, there will still be a need
for "tremendous" scholarship money, he said. 
     While the historically black United Methodist-related
colleges and universities in the United States do not have
endowments of any great size, Ireson said they supplement their
financial resources with money from the denomination's Black
College Fund apportionment. 
     "Africa University may not have the Africa University Fund
forever as church life proceeds and new projects develop," he
said. "We must ensure that it will have the endowment to allow it
to complete its work and its mission that was started in 1988."
     The committee was told that a solid system of development
must be found to raise the additional endowment funds needed to
establish the university into perpetuity and establish it as a
major United Methodist project.
     "As you begin your planning and look toward the future, this
($40 million) is not just a goal, this is of the essence," Ireson
said.  "If we don't have it, we will have to close the university.
It needs that endowment to function."
     The affect and importance of Africa University to the entire
continent was brought into focus by Lucy Hall, director of foreign
personnel for the United States Information Agency in Washington,
D.C. "Africa University has provided an oasis where people of
different tribes in Africa can learn to live together," she said. 
     Hall, also former executive director of the US Information
Agency in Harare, Zimbabwe, said the school "functions as a
peaceful environment of peace, not one of civil disorder."
     She thanked Africa University for its mission in Africa and
said "it is a not just a model for Zimbabwe but for the world.
Africa University goes everywhere. The ripples have spread and
everyone benefits." 
     As an official with the government's information agency, Hall
played an important role in helping Africa University secure
funding for the new agriculture and humanities building, its
equipment and for other projects.
     In other business, the development committee learned that:
     * a financial aid program has been implemented at the
University;
     * more dormitories must be built at the university to
accommodate 1,000 students by the year 2000;
     * a fifth degree program, the faculty (college) of humanities
and sciences is scheduled to begin in 1998;
     * faculties of technology and medicine/dentistry are
recommended for implementation after the year 2000; 
     * the centennial celebration of the Zimbabwe Annual
Conference will be held Dec. 12, 1997, in the Africa University
Chapel being built by the Korean Methodist Church; and
     * 1,000 people from across the world have visited the
university during the past two years.

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