Faculty raises over $250,000 for students

This year’s Microsoft Challenge 2000 generated more than a quarter-million dollars in gifts from faculty members to support graduate and professional students.

A total of 366 eligible gifts were made between Nov. 2, when the Challenge began, and Feb. 1. The $257,307 in faculty gifts will be matched with $128,654 from the Microsoft Corporation. Matching funds will be transferred during March to the gift budgets designated by faculty donors.

The College of Arts and Sciences once again was the top recipient of gifts, with $99,649. The School of Medicine was second, with $32,600. The Graduate School of Public Affairs took top honors for the percentage of faculty making a gift, with 59 percent donating. Friday Harbor Laboratories was second, with 52 percent of faculty giving.

“This is a wonderful expression of the faculty’s commitment to students,” said President Richard L. McCormick. “These gifts, which are above and beyond the professional contributions faculty members make, show a deep personal concern for helping students to succeed. It is even more impressive given the salary gap between the UW and its peer institutions. I want to thank everyone who contributed.”

McCormick added special thanks to the Microsoft Corporation for being “a partner with faculty in the University’s effort to increase the resources available to graduate and professional students.”

Gifts from faculty ranged from $100 to $10,000—there were five gifts of $5,000 or more. Since 1992, when the matching program began, faculty members have donated more than $1.5 million to support graduate and professional students.

For more information, contact Nina Tilander, Director of Annual Giving Programs, at 685-1980, or at nmtiland@u.washington.edu. ¶