CMU medical school loses $100,000 contribution

Nearly one-third of the once-$302,000 in medical school contributions is going elsewhere.

Todd Anson, a 1977 alumnus and Mount Pleasant native, is taking his $100,000 contribution he announced in February to go toward the renovation of Rose Arena and events center costs, said Steve Smith, director of public relations.

He said the contributions for the medical school are set at $202,000.

“I don’t think this loss has any significance at all when you look at the big picture,” said Dr. Cam Enarson, interim dean of the medical school. “I am not at all concerned and know the school is well on the right track. There isn’t any reason or cause for anyone to have concern over this.

“We don’t have a fundraising campaign in place at this point in time. That will follow in discussions with Board of Trustees and (Interim University President) Kathy Wilbur.”

The CMU Board of Trustees approved the development of a medical school in September 2008 that would enroll students in courses by 2011 and open in 2012.

A long process

Enarson said his calm demeanor comes from the knowledge of other funding methods medical schools usually take on.

A budget has not yet been finalized for the medical school, but he is sure that once it is set, donations will not be the only funding necessary to start the project. Other income Enarson mentioned comes from research efforts, faculty and staff income, gifts, endowments and additional support from the university. He said the school also must become accredited to attain some funds.

“A medical school can’t be filled when it depends on tuition alone,” Enarson said. “Student debt is a primary concern for med schools.

The mean (debt) for a medical student is approximately $140,000 in public schools and more in private. We need to pay attention to the tuition, but can’t use it as a crutch.”

Although Anson could not be reached for comment, he said in a February interview with Central Michigan Life that he expressed concerns about Rao’s commitment to paying his full donation.

“I was concerned (Rao) might not be committed the entire duration,” Anson said in February. “But, I literally got on the phone the same day and told him I’d match his donation dollar-for-dollar.”

While Anson changed his mind on his medical school contribution, former University President Michael Rao paid his in full before his departure for Virginia Commonwealth University in June.

Current contributions

Smith said Rao paid all $100,000, while Board of Trustees vice chairman Sam Kottamasu began paying his $100,000 contribution in annual installments, starting in 2008. The other $2,000 comes in small donations without specific donors.

Kottamasu said he is paying in $20,000 annual installments over a five-year period, and he has not paid his 2009 installment yet. His final installment will be paid in 2012, when the medical school is expected to open.

No new contributions were made since Anson, leaving an eight-month stall in incoming donations.

Kottamasu said he is not concerned about the number of donations toward the medical school, and the number we see now is only early in the project’s development.

“The donations will come through because it’s over the next five years,” Kottamasu said.

A meeting will take place Sept. 25 at Davenport University in Saginaw to discuss medical school contributions, along with further developmenty of the project.

Kottamasu said potential donors will be in attendance.

“(Anson’s donation) does not concern me,” he said. “Our goal is to raise enough for five years.”

Events Center

Anson’s $100,000 contribution will instead go to the $21.5 million costs budgeted for Rose Arena’s renovations. The construction is set to begin this semester and is set for completion in fall 2010.

Athletics Director Dave Heeke said the 2010 volleyball season will be the only season displaced because of renovations.

The renovations will include the addition of a practice gym, main entrance to the arena and a full renovation of seating. The design will make the seating into a bowl shape instead of its current box-shaped setup.

Senior Reporter Jake Bolitho contributed to this report.