Privately supported programs thriving

As several university programs that rely on state funding are preparing to be merged, cut or folded into other departments, the College of Arts and Humanities is bucking the trend by unveiling a new institute and accompanying minor with the help of private donations.

The Joseph and Alma Gildenhorn Institute for Israel Studies, which was announced three years ago but becomes fully functional next semester, plans on expanding during the next two years by revamping classes and increasing staffing and outreach — an expansion that comes largely from private funding, Executive Director Paul Scham said. Although the institute still receives university funding, these private investments have supported it as the rest of the university undergoes budget-related cutbacks.

"There's no way this would have been set up without private donations," Scham said.

Next semester, a new class, ISRL142: Introduction to Israel Studies, and two new seminars — one on Israeli politics, and one on archaeology, heritage and the contemporary Middle East — will be available for students to take.

Well-timed donations allowed the institute to continue moving forward even as other departments scale back.

"There were a number of donors who gave money before the current crisis hit," Scham said. "It's not that the university has shelled out a lot of extra money."

But these initial endowments are only a starting point, Scham added.

"In order to do as much as we hope, we will have to continue fundraising," he said. "This is the name of the game in much of academia."

This year, Scham said the institute plans on seeing a large increase in endowments in response to bringing in Director Yoram Peri, former political adviser to assassinated Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin and former editor in chief of the Israeli newspaper, Davar. Peri also serves as Abraham S. and Jack Kay Chair in Israel Studies.

"Our donors wanted to see what they were contributing to," Scham said. "They were waiting for the chair to be filled and a plan to be in place. It's likely that this year we will have some considerable amounts in endowments."

This private funding, according to Scham, will be largely used to fund Peri's position and staff salaries. Donated money will also be put toward materials and facilities that will help further the program, which focuses on Israel's history, culture, society and conflicts.

"Israeli studies is a modern phenomenon," Peri said. "New institutes like this are being established in many universities. We're planning on making it much larger — more classes, more outreach."

This method of seeking out endowments to fund specialized university programs and initiatives is not a new one. Several other university schools and colleges — most notably the journalism and engineering schools — have been leaning on private donations to help stay afloat during the financial crisis.

"The college of journalism so far has been fortunate that we have not had to make significant cuts that affect programs," Assistant Dean of External Relations Anne Martens said. "We're belt-tightening and being conservative and deliberate in our expenses and we're also looking at additional sources of revenue."

Endowments in the college have helped fund scholarships to bring new students to the university, Martens said, adding that private funding has been key in retaining faculty during the worst economic downturn since the Great Depression.

Private donations also helped fund the $30 million construction of the journalism school's new building, Knight Hall. The project is supported by $16 million from the state and $14 million from private support, Martens said. With $2.5 million left to raise, Martens noted the college will continue to look to alumni, past donors and foundations to support the project.

Officials in the engineering school said they also rely on endowments to fund student scholarships, although the amount of donations received decreased as the economy sputtered.

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