Central Michigan University College of Medicine pledged donations close to $1 million


College of Medicine funding is approaching seven figures and the goal of raising $25 million is still at least three years away.

Dr. Ernest Yoder, the college’s dean, said the Capital Campaign, which began in February, has acquired just under $1 million worth of pledged donations.

While the ideal goal is to have all $25 million raised within three years, Yoder said they hope to have major pledges confirmed well before that — by spring 2011.

“We strongly think we will raise $25 million,” he said.

Original plans aimed to raise the $25 million over five years and the team has been very active so far, said Board of Trustees member Sam Kottamasu.

Though pledges have only neared $1 million, Yoder said a number of community members who have substantially donated to the university in the past have verbally pledged to donate to the College of Medicine.

Particulars — like naming opportunities and specific donation amounts — are being discussed, Yoder said. Those pledges will not be reflected in the committee’s total until confirmed.

Yoder said the university jumped into the fundraising phase before having a substantial amount of donations pledged prior to announcing plans for the College of Medicine, because of the construction’s time frame.

“This is a little different campaign,” he said. “Most fundraising campaigns have a period of about six months where there is sort of quiet fundraising ... We did not have the usual six month quiet period.”

If fundraising efforts do not generate all necessary funds within the five-year time frame, Yoder said the Capital Campaign will simply continue seeking donations and there will be no adverse affects for students.

Construction for the college, he said, is slated to be completed in fall 2011, when efforts to recruit students and interviews will be conducted. The first class will begin in summer 2012.

Yoder said initial construction costs are being paid for with funds allocated from the university construction fund, while the dean’s office budget has been funded through the university operational budget.

These funds will be replaced, Yoder said, when the Capital Campaign has raised the $25 million goal.

According to data from Steve Smith, director of public relations, the $25 million will be divided into three categories: $15 million for facilities, $8 million for scholarships and $2 million for start-up operations.

Yoder said there is not a deadline for raising scholarship money and plans are being developed to continue those efforts well after the college building is constructed.

Some corroborating entities have pledged to offer scholarship opportunities for Central Michigan University medical students.

“Some of the communities themselves are organizing efforts to create community-based scholarships for students that come from the area with the intent of recruiting those physicians back to their community,” he said.

Share: