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Texas Christian University last night announced what it calls “the most ambitious philanthropic campaign” in its nearly 150-year history. The $1 billion goal of Lead On: A Campaign for TCU will raise funds to invest in support for student scholarships, endowed faculty and academic programs.

The four high-level priorities that mirror the goals of the university’s strategic plan, Vision in Action: Lead On: aimed at strengthening: the school’s academic profile and reputation; the university’s endowment; the TCU experience and campus culture; and the workforce for both employees and graduates.

During an Oct. 24 launch celebration on campus, TCU officials noted the support the campaign has garnered to date. More than 44,000 TCU supporters have provided nearly $600 million in philanthropic investment during the leadership phase of the campaign, which is co-chaired by Ronald C. Parker and Dee J. Kelly Jr., members of TCU’s board of trustees.

The university says more than 44,000 supporters have already contributed nearly $600 million. TCU says the $1 billion campaign is the "most ambitious" ever in its nearly 150-year history.

Southern Methodist University in Dallas was the first private university in Texas to reach the goal. In February 2016, it announced that it had "raised gifts totaling $1.15 billion, the largest amount ever raised by a private university in Texas."

To date 118 gifts of $1 million or more have been received, and 17 donors have made gifts of $5 million or more. The lead gift to date is $30 million from Spencer and Marlene Hays for the $75 million Neeley School of Business expansion and renovation project.

School officials are hopeful TCU and the Fort Worth community will support growing the university’s research footprint. Nearly $600 million has already been raised from about 44,000 donors. The last drive for $250 million ended with more than $430 million raised.

The idea is that TCU will be able to leverage $1 billion into attracting and retaining top professors while also providing scholarship opportunities to students, along with new grant possibilities to fund student and faculty-led research. That portion accounts for $750 million. About $250 million will be devoted to building renovations.

Over the past several years, TCU alumni and friends have supported some 32 new endowed faculty positions, while almost $300 million in donor-funded scholarship support has allowed the most accomplished, deserving students to benefit from a TCU education.

Unlike a $250 million campaign in 2012, which at the time was the largest drive and focused primarily on expanding TCU’s buildings, this money will be mostly devoted to people and programs.

Read more here: https://www.star-telegram.com/news/loca ... rylink=cpy

https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/TCU-l ... 53931.html

http://www.fortworthbusiness.com/news/t ... 6cfbe.html

That is great. But I would be more impressed if they were cutting costs to make the education more affordable where scholarships weren't necessary for many. I am also skeptical about whether $250 million really needs to go to building renovations given that there has already been a large amount of renovations on campus. I would prefer more substance over cosmetics.

$1 Billion is the minimum for serious university campaigns these days. UH raised over $1 billion ahead of schedule and is continuing for more.

It seems like TCU is using some funds to expand the Neeley School. Their MBA program only graduated about 55 per year. The undergrad program is much smaller than SMU's as well. Expanding the b-school is one way to drive up their admissions profile.

tristatecoog wrote:$1 Billion is the minimum for serious university campaigns these days. UH raised over $1 billion ahead of schedule and is continuing for more.

It seems like TCU is using some funds to expand the Neeley School. Their MBA program only graduated about 55 per year. The undergrad program is much smaller than SMU's as well. Expanding the b-school is one way to drive up their admissions profile.

I am not sure how interested TCU is in expanding and going all out for admission rankings. It has grown somewhat but as far as I know they have been making a concerted effort to keep the campus small. If they wanted to expand it to say 20,000 enrollment they could do so with the move to the Big12.

I believe they also had the opportunity to bring the Texas Wesleyan law school into the fold but passed on it. This tells me they aren't so obsessed with school academic rankings.

in no way could they go from 8,500 to 20,000 and still have the tuition they have - there is a limited market for 45k a year in tuition and there aren't that many full boat payers at that price.

gostangs wrote:in no way could they go from 8,500 to 20,000 and still have the tuition they have - there is a limited market for 45k a year in tuition and there aren't that many full boat payers at that price.

If you throw in graduate students they were over 10,489 in 2017 and am sure that has risen a little over the last two years. So 20,000 students isn't so far away. In time, they could ramp up to those numbers. If they added in a law school and put an emphasis on research they could triple their current graduate students which would put them over 15,000 alone. And with the help of big daddy government, I think they could eventually get there. But again they have shown little interest to do so. They like being a small private school as evidenced by the decisions they have made.

ThisIsOurTime wrote:

gostangs wrote:in no way could they go from 8,500 to 20,000 and still have the tuition they have - there is a limited market for 45k a year in tuition and there aren't that many full boat payers at that price.

If you throw in graduate students they were over 10,489 in 2017 and am sure that has risen a little over the last two years. So 20,000 students isn't so far away. In time, they could ramp up to those numbers. If they added in a law school and put an emphasis on research they could triple their current graduate students which would put them over 15,000 alone. And with the help of big daddy government, I think they could eventually get there. But again they have shown little interest to do so. They like being a small private school as evidenced by the decisions they have made.

Well, they added a medical school...

ThisIsOurTime wrote:

gostangs wrote:in no way could they go from 8,500 to 20,000 and still have the tuition they have - there is a limited market for 45k a year in tuition and there aren't that many full boat payers at that price.

If you throw in graduate students they were over 10,489 in 2017 and am sure that has risen a little over the last two years. So 20,000 students isn't so far away. In time, they could ramp up to those numbers. If they added in a law school and put an emphasis on research they could triple their current graduate students which would put them over 15,000 alone. And with the help of big daddy government, I think they could eventually get there. But again they have shown little interest to do so. They like being a small private school as evidenced by the decisions they have made.

20k isn't that far away? Like doubling the size of the school? Not happening.

lol. TCU won't expand to 20,000. That's lunacy.