Fund raising, setting sound budget tops Ferrari’s list of goals at Fall Convocation
The Chancellor outlines six objectives to accomplish in his last year at TCU. Donald Jackson receives the Chancellor’s Award for distinguished teaching and Kay Higgins receives the Wassenich award for mentoring.
By Antoinette Vega
Staff Reporter

Citing the poor economy, Chancellor Michael Ferrari included developing a sound budget for the next fiscal year and fund raising among six urgent campus objectives for the coming months at Thursday’s Fall Convocation.

With stable enrollment, a pressured endowment, and limited tuition increases, Ferrari said he will ask budget managers to consider reallocating existing money within departments to meet needs rather than expect new funds. Ferrari said a Board of Trustees steering committee has also been formed to carry out targeted fund raising. He said the university hopes to raise more than the $70 million it received in gifts over the last 2 1/2 years to use in major campus projects.

“I know that this is not an easy task, but your suggestions of ways to stretch existing dollars will be needed as we develop next year’s budget plan,” he said.

Evaluating enrollment will be another objective for the next year. Ferrari said more students are picking public universities, even if TCU was their first choice. He said a committee comprising admissions and financial aid staff members has been formed to examine a possible increased need for more scholarship and financial aid.

Other initiatives for the year include completing the re-accreditation visit by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, adopting a new undergraduate core curriculum, and selecting a new chancellor.

Claudia Camp, a religion professor, said she is glad the core curriculum was targeted to the freshman class of 2004 rather than 2003.

“There were problems last year with rushing to complete the core, but now there will be more time to shape it,” Camp said.

A topic that concerns the long-term progress of TCU, Ferrari said, is the dedication to the democracy in a changing world through civic engagement.

“Programs on campus have become highly effective in reinforcing our mission statement and the critical thinking crucial to an educated citizenry and enlightened leaders,” he said.

Karen Steele, an assistant professor of English, said she was very excited to hear the emphasis on civic engagement.

“I focus on civic engagement in the classes I teach and (it) is something that should be integral in the learning process.”

Ferrari also presented L. Kay Higgins, director of new student programs, the Wassenich Award for Mentoring and Donald Jackson, a political science professor, the Chancellor’s Award for Distinguished Teaching.