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JU ASPIRE Campaign surpasses $100 million raised,
announces $2.5 million Bisk Family Foundation donation for
online learning
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Jacksonville University’s ASPIRE
comprehensive campaign has reached a record-breaking $100
million raised toward programs and facilities for its students,
including a $2.5 million donation this week from the Bisk Family
Foundation, the largest single investment in dedicated online
learning in JU’s history, the University announced.
Several recent seven-figure contributions totaling nearly $25
million, including the $2.5 million from the Bisk Family
Foundation, $4 million from Brooks Rehabilitation and other
investments from individuals and foundations, have created a
heightened sense of momentum for the $120 million campaign as it
moves forward to accelerate progress and prospects for the
future.
“We
are grateful for the encouraging support and outstanding rate of
contributions in this campaign, and our targeted goal is now
only the beginning of our efforts,” said JU President Tim Cost.
“Investment is coming not only from our distinguished major
partners, but also from a groundswell of support by many of our
individual friends and supporters. They believe strongly in the
upward trajectory of JU as it provides the highest-quality
education for its students.”
In
contributing to JU’s ASPIRE Campaign, the Bisk Family
Foundation’s gift will establish the Nathan M. Bisk Center for
Online Learning.
“JU
has been at the forefront of online learning with Bisk for over
14 years. We will continue this legacy of online learning by
bringing innovation and collaboration to the center and by
further enhancing the student experience,” said Nathan M. Bisk,
founder Bisk Education.
Five
pillars with funding targets represent the key objectives of
ASPIRE: Advancing Scholarships and Academics, $27 million;
creating and expanding the Brooks Rehabilitation College of
Healthcare Sciences, $24 million; Campus and Student Life
Enhancements, $12 million; Athletics, $17 million; and Financial
Vitality, $40 million.
“We
are experiencing real excitement across campus and in the larger
community about what is going on here at JU, and it’s allowing
us to think even bigger than originally planned for new programs
and upgraded facilities,” Cost said.
Programs and facilities completed, under way or planned as a
result of ASPIRE include:
The
Nathan M. Bisk Center for Online Learning. The
new online center provides an invaluable addition to
Jacksonville University and recognizes the University’s
longstanding success in online learning, particularly with the
highly regarded online nursing programs offered by the Brooks
Rehabilitation College of Healthcare Sciences and powered by
Bisk. This new center will enhance a mutual and passionate
interest in expanding centralized, online, flexible learning
platforms. The center will provide the resources needed for
important planned collaborations between the Brooks
Rehabilitation College of Healthcare Sciences and the Davis
College of Business. These new initiatives are well-positioned
in offering key online graduate degrees and certificate programs
for professional preparation to enter top healthcare and
business industries.
Collaborate JU. This
interdisciplinary effort was developed through JU’s Florida EPIC
(Entrepreneurism, Policy, Innovation, and Commerce) Program.
Through this unique venture, students and professors from
multiple disciplines join forces with industry experts to
solve challenging problems. Current research
includes Biomechanical Assessment of Athletes, Coral Reef
Restoration, Mobile Water Quality Monitoring, and Oyster Reef
Assessment. JU secured a $12 million investment from the State
of Florida last year – the largest state funding in the
University’s 81-year history – to help launch EPIC. Additional
initiatives supported within EPIC include engineering,
information technology, cyber security, data analytics and
health informatics.
D.B.
Milne Field upgrades. Investment
in the lacrosse and football stadium includes enhancements such
as 2,900 permanent seats and a press box, as well as new
restrooms, an improved sound system and concession stands. These
improvements have been completed thanks to the generosity of
donors including Wayne and Delores Barr Weaver; Gary and Nancy
Chartrand; Robert and Margaret Hill; MCC Sports, The W.C. Gentry
Family Foundation; and Bill and Eloise Gay.
The
River House. The
reimagined River House received $1.5 million in renovations and
is now a signature location for student events, studying,
socializing, high-profile community receptions, or just a bite
to eat. This new, dynamic 6,000-square-foot gathering place also
features a brew pub, meeting rooms, wide-screen TVs, and tiered
outside decking overlooking the Sand Volleyball complex and
riverfront totaling 2,800 square feet.
Nelms Plaza outdoor study space/Nimnicht Fitness Center. A
recent addition to campus, the $250,000 Nelms Plaza
is a collaborative learning and socializing outdoor space with
canopies, cabana seating and smartphone recharging stations in a
centralized campus location near the Swisher Science building
and Brooks Rehabilitation College of Healthcare Sciences. The
Nimnicht Fitness Center is the result of a $300,000 investment
in an entirely new space featuring brand new fitness equipment
and a major overall upgrade to the University’s fitness center
overlooking the St. Johns River.
Science and Health Sciences labs. New
laboratories have been built, and existing ones refreshed, in
the Swisher, Nelms, Reid Medical and Merritt Penticoff academic
buildings and the Brooks Rehabilitation College of Healthcare
Sciences. The $2.2 million in improvements mean students
studying anatomy, biology, chemistry, physics, kinesiology and
other science- and health sciences-related subjects have
state-of-the-art facilities and equipment to conduct their
experiments and observations. In particular, the University’s
fast-growing Nursing program in the College of Healthcare
Sciences will benefit greatly from the enhancements.
Advancing Scholarships and Academics. Scholarships
supported through the ASPIRE Campaign are essential to making JU
a viable, attractive choice of exceptional students. Gifts of
annual named scholarships are matched equally by Jacksonville
University. So far, $16.8 million in named and endowed
scholarships has been awarded to break down financial barriers
for the best and brightest students, and $17.1 million has been
put toward academics and faculty and student research projects.
Financial Vitality. A
thriving endowment ensures financial security for JU despite
economic variations. ASPIRE’s Financial Vitality pillar supports
endowed department chairs, professorships and
scholarships. Nothing illustrates how much a community cares
about its local university than its endowment. Through ASPIRE,
JU’s endowment has risen from $30 million to $45 million. With
ASPIRE funds, so far Davis College of Business Dean Dr. Don
Capener has been named McGehee Endowed Chair of International
Management; Dr. Carol
Dole has been named the duPont Chair of Sport Business; Dr.
Matrecia S. L. James, Associate Dean and Associate Professor of
Management, has been awarded the Robert T. Shircliff Professor
of Business Ethics Endowed Chair; and Dr. Robert (Bob) Boylan
has been awarded the Endowed Chair
of Finance, funded by the late Guy Warren Botts, the former
chairman of
Barnett Banks Inc. |