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OGDEN — Drummers, dancers and confetti cannons ushered in a new era for Weber State University last Wednesday as institution leaders announced a successful fundraising campaign culminating in the university's 125th anniversary this year.
Eight years ago, the university set out to raise $125 million in private donations to help more students graduate and make capital and academic improvements to the campus.
The campaign doesn't end until June, but the institution has exceeded its goal, reaching more than $146 million this week, according to WSU President Charles Wight.
"It has been fantastically successful," Wight said. "We are feeling the love of our community."
The fundraising campaign is the largest in Weber State's 125-year history, and it includes cash and pledges from nearly 15,700 donors, about 8,100 of whom are contributing for the first time.
Almost $29 million of the total will come as future legacy gifts from personal estate donations. About 1,500 current and former faculty and staff members — more than half of the number of people currently employed at the university — gave a combined donation of more than $6 million.
And more contributions are expected to flow in before the campaign wraps up this summer, according to Matt Spencer, executive director of development and university advancement.
"It's an incredible accomplishment for the university. A lot of campaigns are measured in dollars, but I think we can measure the success of this campaign in lives that will be assisted and transformed," Spencer said. "It all comes down to supporting our students, and an accomplishment like this will definitely do that."
About $33 million will be devoted to student scholarships in the next few years. Student financial aid is especially needed since Weber has an open-access admissions model and student enrollment has increased by 7,600 students since 2005. Almost 75 percent of this year's 25,955 students work at least part time, according to university leaders.
Student body president Cash Knight said the new scholarship money will give many students an added vote of confidence and encouragement to finish school.
"They're investing in the future of the community because I see it as an investment in us," Knight said. "Why would you stop going to school when there's people who are supporting you and empowering you to keep going to school? How can you stop when there's people who have your back, pushing you the whole way?"
The funding will also be used to support and enhance existing academic programs through research, technology, training and travel for students, faculty and staff. But the university's mission as a teaching institution isn't changing, Wight said.
"It's our faculty who spend that one-on-one attention to the students that really creates the magic that happens for students as they learn and excel and achieve," he said. "That's our role."
Remaining donation dollars will go toward making capital renovations on campus. This year, Wight and other university administrators asked the Utah Legislature for $30 million to renovate WSU's Social Sciences Building.
No legislative appropriation was provided this year, but lawmakers allowed university leaders to proceed with the project's design, possibly in anticipation of an appropriation next year, Wight said.
The university also received a $6.5 million private donation, most of which will help fund the building's $34.8 million upgrade.
Weber State currently offers almost 250 major, minor and certificate programs through its seven colleges. Full-time undergraduate students currently pay about $5,300 in yearly tuition and fees, less than other public universities along the Wasatch Front.
Colton Thompson is a computer science major who is just finishing his first year at the Ogden university. He said he's confident private donations to Weber State will give students a better academic experience.
Thompson said he's already recommended Weber State to his cousin, who will soon graduate from high school.
"I told her, 'I know how scary college can be, so if you want somebody to help you get integrated, this is a good school to go to,'" Thompson said. "I love it here. I look forward to staying here. Honestly, I wouldn't go to any other school after this. This is home for me."
