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YSU announces $100M campaign project
YOUNGSTOWN
Youngstown State University President Jim Tressel helped announce the public launch of a $100 million campaign project.
The announcement came during a Thursday evening dinner at Stambaugh Auditorium.
The campaign, titled “We See Tomorrow,” is part of what Tressel plans to further the university’s success.
“Student success is obviously our core business,” Tressel explained. “We are looking to improve all of the things we look to for students to make a difference outside of the classroom.”
The campaign is expected to take six years to achieve.
Tressel and Jocelyn Kollay Linsalata, YSU Foundation chairwoman, agreed the campaign is to make a better, well-rounded student via several avenues.
The money will be spent as follows: $12 million to a student success center, $14 million to the Mahoning Valley Innovation and Commercialization Center, $20 million to scholarships and student work opportunities, $15 million to endowed chairs and professorships, $10 million to campus beautification efforts, $5 million to classroom improvements, $4 million to the Rich Center for Autism and $20 million to the YSU Annual Fund.
What the campaign will do, Linsalata explained, is offer students access to university education and guarantee success.
“Students willing to do the work can get in here, and we can lead the way,” she said. “We will offer access to take them into success.”
The Student Success Center is tentatively planned for Jones Hall and Maag Library and will join several services including tutoring, advising, counseling, skills and more.
The MVIC facility will be at the corner of Fifth Avenue and Commerce Street and will be a collaboratively used manufacturing lab.
As far as endowed chairs and professorships, Tressel said once the money is raised he will challenge his YSU family to raise the academic levels in their colleges.
The goal for the Rich Center is to double it in size, Tressel added.
“We want to grow the laboratory opportunities for faculty, staff and students,” he said.
The YSU Annual Fund provides support where the university needs it.
Linsalata said the campaign is the largest in YSU’s 109-year history, and it has already raised $51.7 million, half of the goal.
“We have lots of thanks to give to our alum[ni]s, local business people, faculty and administration that brought us to this point,” Linsalata said. “Now we are asking you introduce us to your neighbors.”