News & Publications
St. John's Exceeds Goal for Capital Campaign
FOR RELEASE: July 28, 2008
CONTACT: Rosemary Harty 443-716-4011
reharty@sjca.edu
St. John's College has raised $134 million through its capital campaign, more than tripling the amount raised in its previous campaign and significantly strengthening the college's endowment. "With a Clear and Single Purpose": The Campaign for St. John's College has raised money for student financial aid, new buildings on both campuses, increased faculty salaries and improved student services.
The campaign began its public phase in April 2006, and the campaign total was announced July 25, 2008, during a campaign celebration on the college's Santa Fe campus. Strong giving from St. John's alumni, several major gifts from foundations, and the financial support of friends of the college-from its communities in Santa Fe and Annapolis and from across the nation-allowed the college to raise more than its ambitious $125 million goal for the campaign.
"This is a remarkable achievement for St. John's," said Christopher Nelson (SF70), president of St. John's in Annapolis. "Gifts to this campaign will strengthen the college financially so that our distinctive academic program can flourish, now and well into the future."
"At a critical juncture in the college's history, the financial support and commitment of our donors, friends, local and national foundations, and alumni demonstrate that St. John's has an important role to play in higher education in New Mexico and across the country," said Michael Peters, president of the college's Santa Fe campus.
Unlike many fundraising campaigns for colleges and universities, St. John's capital campaign was not planned to allow the college to grow, but to enable it to remain small-a required element of the college's discussion-based educational program. The faculty-student ratio at St. John's is 8:1, one of the lowest among higher education institutions in the United States.
Among the college's highest priorities is ensuring that St. John's remains affordable and accessible to all qualified students, regardless of their financial resources. To that end, the college has raised $43.6 million in gifts and pledges for financial aid, including a new scholarship fund to support Maryland students at St. John's.
Another important goal of the campaign was to build endowment to ensure its long-term stability. As a result of the campaign, the college's endowment has grown to about $125 million, allowing the college to better support faculty development and salaries, financial aid, student internships, and the day-to-day operations of the college.
Much of the money raised is already at work in supporting the college's mission, and several projects now in the planning and design stage will be built in the next few years:
- The completion of two new dormitories in Annapolis-Gilliam Hall and Spector Hall-means that the college can house nearly 75 percent of its students on campus. The new buildings have "green" features such as geothermal heating and include expansive common rooms with views of College Creek.
- In Santa Fe, the Betty and Norman Levan Hall, now in the design phase, will house classrooms, faculty offices, common spaces, and administrative offices for the Graduate Institute, which was founded on this campus in 1967.
- A new 25,000-square-foot, 60-bed residence hall in Santa Fe will allow St. John's to house 80 percent of its student body on the campus.
- A generous scholarship program funded by the Hodson Trust supports K-12 teachers who enroll in the college's Graduate Institute in Annapolis.
- Internship programs for undergraduates have been expanded, allowing more students to explore careers and gain valuable work experience.
- Early support for the campaign allowed the college to expand and renovate Mellon Hall in Annapolis.
- Campaign gifts given in honor of St. John's tutors have allowed the college to devote more resources to faculty salaries and development, ensuring that the college can provide a nurturing environment for tutors and attract well-qualified faculty members.
Sharon Bishop, a 1965 alumna and chair of the Board of Visitors and Governors, says the campaign's success shows that both alumni and friends of the college believe St. John's stands for something important and valuable in higher education.
"Our alumni are willing to support the college to a greater extent than ever," Ms. Bishop said. "And we have also gained the admiration and financial support of foundations and friends, which have been critical to our future. Because this campaign has been such a resounding success, we can move on to the next chapter, grounded in our purpose and confident about the future."