SHANE TOPONC
The $250 million “Lighting the Way” capital campaign will raise funds for BYU to support ongoing programs on campus and create a better environment for learning.
Through the campaign, BYU hopes to accomplish three things: First, teach more students; second, enhance the educational quality of the school; and third, extend BYU’s influence around the world, according to the official “Lighting the Way” capital campaign brochure.
“The goals have evolved,” said Barry Preator, campaign director, and director of support services for the LDS foundation,”and they will continue to evolve.
“If a capital campaign is dynamic and if in fact it’s being successful, there’s a very good likelihood that the priorities will be adjusted and that the goal will be adjusted, because it’s not a static process. The campaign is about much more that just money. It’s about making this university a viable and living entity that is motivating and changing lives.”
The dollar amount figures for this campaign were reached as a result of a feasibility study conducted with ninety couples. Couples were asked; if such a campaign were to begin, what would there likelihood of contributing be and how much would they be willing to contribute, Preator said. After many modifications the projected goal went from $600 million to $250 million.
“The campaign is not to be focussed on money,” said Ron Taylor, director of communications for the LDS Foundation, “more important is that the campaign is changing and saving lives.”
“The knowledge, new light and understanding that are gained by those who study at BYU, will be taken and dispersed throughout the world,” said Alan C. Ashton, co-founder, past president and chairman of WordPerfect Corporation and co-chair of the campaign for BYU, in an interview for “Inner Circle.” “BYU is a place where ethics, character and integrity are major components of what is taught. Those qualities, as seeds, will go with our graduates to be planted in fertile soil in many places of the world.”
Since the campaign began in Sep. 1993, approximately 60% of the total funds have been raised. This figure translates into approximately $148 million in commitments, according to the brochure.
Contributions to the campaign can be made in the amounts of $25 up to
$1 million.
In order for the campaign to reach it’s goals, thousands of donations must be received. There must be at least one donation of $25 million and $135,000 donations of $25, according to the brochure.
The priorities and goals of the campaign have been broken down into specific allotments. Each area, following the three campaign goals, has a specific goal the campaign wishes to reach.
A total of $78.6 million is the goal for the area of teaching more students. Funds raised will go to increasing student educational benefits by establishing more scholarships, internships and grants-in-aid.
Funds will also help to improve faculty effectiveness allowing for more teaching assistants and graduate students, faculty positions for spring and summer courses, general education classes and improved curriculum, according to the brochure.
The enhance educational quality portion of the campaign will require $105.3 million. Priorities of support with these funds include expanding libraries: Harold B. Lee Library and Howard W. Hunter Law Library. Also, to build BYU’s role as a superior teaching institution and to support faculty scholarship and programs that enhance teaching and serve Church interests, according to the brochure.
With the $66.1 million to be raised for extending BYU’s influence, BYU will build university and college endowments for future security and flexibility. Also, BYU will enhance the university’s international mission by giving more scholarships and grants for international students and support for travel of the performing arts groups, according to the brochure.
In 1995, BYU-Hawaii became an official part of the campaign. $15 million will go to the campus of Laie, to strengthen their many programs. Another $15 million came in the form of programs for the Marriott School of Management. President Bateman, as the new president of BYU added $3 million for the Religious Studies Center, bringing the goal to $250 million.
“We hope everyone who appreciates BYU will unite in supporting the ‘Lighting the Way’ campaign,” Preator said. “We invite friends, faculty, staff and students of the university to join with us. This historic campaign is an opportunity to celebrate the university’s potential for yet greater influence in the lives of thousands of men and women throughout the world by amplifying the light of BYU.”
