Funding Priorities

Great teaching is the hallmark of a Valpo education. Each graduate can recall a faculty member who inspired them and changed her or his life for the better. With half of Valpo’s faculty reaching retirement age within the next decade, it is now time to shape the faculty of the future. The endowed funds secured by Forever Valpo: The Campaign for Our Future will reward faculty for their scholarship and accomplishments, compensate them at competitive levels, and provide them with exceptional opportunities for professional development.

DEANSHIPS, FACULTY CHAIRS, AND PROFESSORSHIPS

DEAN OF COLLEGE OR SCHOOL | $5,000,000

Endowment of a dean’s chair demonstrates a significant commitment to Valpo and provides the visionary leaders of our colleges with sustained support to advance the teaching, scholarship, research, and programs that will shape the faculty of the future. Universities with endowed deanships have a distinct advantage in recruiting and retaining the best possible deans.

CHAIR | $3,000,000

Endowed chair positions are designations of scholarly excellence, typically conferred upon the most distinguished scholars and teachers, and used to recruit new faculty or to reward and retain current faculty. The funding generated by the endowment ensures the appointed faculty has the resources available to take their scholarship to the next level.

PROFESSORSHIP | $1,000,000

Professorships recognize and reward the exceptional scholarship of current faculty. They are highly prized within the academic community and are powerful tools in retaining top faculty members. The positions have three-year terms and are often are funded by alumni who wish to recognize a professor who made a lasting impact on them.

FACULTY PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

CAMBRIDGE FACULTY PROGRAM FUND | $5,000,000

This endowment will fund the Cambridge Faculty Program, the hallmark, mission-focused on-boarding activity, which has effectively prepared new faculty for a lifetime of teaching and service at Valpo since 2001. Continuance of the program is critical, as nearly half of our faculty members will reach retirement age within the next decade.

STUDENT–FACULTY RESEARCH FELLOWSHIP | $750,000

This endowment will support collaborative student–faculty research projects at Valpo, providing students with the opportunity to work side by side with faculty on research initiatives in their related field of study. The funds will support the projects and be used for stipends, wages, supplies, travel, and/or summer housing allowance.

FACULTY FELLOWSHIP | $250,000

The endowed faculty fellowship will provide resources for faculty to participate in significant scholarly, pedagogical, or teaching projects. The fellowship typically includes reassignment of one course for a single semester, providing time for grant writing, publishing, presenting, or new course development.

FACULTY DEVELOPMENT AWARD | $100,000

Faculty support for significant scholarly, teaching, or pedagogical projects that typically include substantial travel, especially international, will be provided with this endowed fund. Selection is through a competitive process and the projects must have clear outcomes and measurements and be completed within two academic years.

FACULTY TEACHING AND LEARNING INNOVATION AWARD | $100,000

This endowed fund will provide mini-grants to faculty for on-campus scholarly, teaching, and pedagogical projects. These competitive awards will be selected by a faculty committee, with dean and provost approval, for projects to be completed with a single academic year.

SCHOLARS AND PRACTITIONERS

DISTINGUISHED VISITING PROFESSOR OR GUEST ARTIST | $1,000,000

Visiting professors and guest artists serve as in-residence experts and offer a fresh perspective that will enrich educational experiences in the host college or school through scholarship, faculty development, and programming. Endowed support will be used to fund several visiting professors or guest artists throughout the academic year or one individual up to a full semester.

EXECUTIVE-IN-RESIDENCE FOR COLLEGE | $500,000

This endowment will provide funds for notable executives or professionals to be in-residence at Valpo within a specific college or school. During their short-term residencies, the executives will visit classes, work with students, lead faculty workshops, and mentor students and faculty on their area of expertise.

VISITING LECTURER | $500,000

Visiting lecturers will be on the Valpo campus for one semester or less, during which time they will teach one or two courses and provide pedagogical faculty development within a college or school. Endowed support will provide funds for compensation.

LECTURE SERIES FOR COLLEGE OR SCHOOL | $500,000

An endowed lecture series within a school or college will provide an ongoing forum for faculty and students to listen, learn, and engage in meaningful dialogue on a variety of discipline-related topics addressing the key issues in their field of study.

Endowed scholarship funds will make it possible for us to say “yes” to more of the students for whom Valparaiso University is a perfect match. Your support will help change the lives of countless young women and men, enabling deserving students from across the socioeconomic spectrum to attend Valpo, to flourish at Valpo, and to follow generations of Valpo alumni into lives of compassionate leadership in all walks of life.

FULL-TUITION SCHOLARSHIP | $850,000

Full scholarships cover students’ total annual tuition costs, allowing them to focus on their academic work and fully experience all aspects of a Valpo education. Depending on the donor’s preference, the scholarships can be designated for a specific field of study and renewable for the length of that degree program, as long as the award criteria are met.

DIVISION I ATHLETIC SCHOLARSHIP | $850,000

The success of Valpo Athletics has an immeasurable impact upon the vitality and exposure of the University. There is no greater way to invest in the success of Valpo student-athletes who strive to be champions in competition, the classroom, and the community, than to establish an endowed athletic scholarship.

HALF-TUITION SCHOLARSHIP | $425,000

Half-tuition scholarships provide the University with the flexibility to meet the specific needs of individual students. The funds from the endowment can be awarded for a single semester, combined with other financial aid, or used to bridge the gap between the cost of attendance and the ability to pay.

SCHOLARSHIP | $100,000 – $400,000

Endowed scholarship funds provide permanent resources that allow the University to attract students who will use their education as a springboard to lives of leadership and service. It ensures the most promising students have access to a Valpo education. Endowed scholarships can be designated for a specific school, college, or particular field of study.

EMERGENCY SCHOLARSHIP FUND | $100,000 – $400,000

This endowment will provide flexible scholarship funds to support students facing an emergency situation so severe it has threatened their ability to remain enrolled at Valpo. Support of the students would be confidential and awarded after review by the President’s Office, upon the recommendation of Financial Aid.

SCHOLARSHIP FOR OFF-CAMPUS STUDY | $100,000

Off-campus study programs, domestic and international, present students with challenging and transformative experiences. Unfortunately, some students must decline these opportunities, as the costs prohibit their participation. This endowment will provide the resources to ensure no Valpo student is denied the chance to participate due to their financial circumstances.

INTERNSHIP SCHOLARSHIP | $100,000

The scholarship funds support students undertaking an internship either during the summer or during the academic year. The focus of this scholarship is on program fees, meeting the cost of living, if needed, and other expenses that present a challenge to the students undertaking the internship program.

SUMMER RESEARCH OR CREATIVE ACTIVITY SCHOLARSHIP | $50,000

The scholarship funds provide a stipend to students undertaking summer research or creative activity, with preference given to on-campus activities. Use of the funds for other expenses related to the research or creative activity could be considered, depending on the donor’s interest and intent.

Gifted and passionate faculty, combined with outstanding students and exceptional facilities, are key components in establishing programs with well-deserved national and international reputations of excellence. Forever Valpo: The Campaign for Our Future will establish endowed funds to support programs that prepare all students for lives of leadership and service.

INSTITUTE FOR LEADERSHIP AND SERVICE

Established in 2012, the Institute works with all members of the University community to help students integrate their academic study, service experience, and career goals into a deeper sense of calling and purpose.

DIRECTOR OF THE INSTITUTE FOR LEADERSHIP AND SERVICE | $3,000,000 FUNDED

Endowment of the director’s position demonstrates a significant commitment to the strategic vision of the Institute. The resources will allow leadership to quickly respond to immediate needs, as well as provide a supplemental source of funding for long-term projects.

CALLING AND PURPOSE IN SOCIETY (CAPS) FELLOWS PROGRAM | $1,000,000

The CAPS Fellows Program combines experiential learning opportunities with thoughtful reflection to help students connect their study, service, and career goals. Real-world experience is gained at summer internships at regional and national service organizations.

PATHWAYS TO PURPOSE LECTURE PROGRAM | $500,000

Pathways to Purpose is the Institute’s signature speaker series, bringing dynamic Valpo alumni and other exemplary practitioners of leadership and service to campus. Speakers share their experience and the paths they have taken to discover lives of purposeful work, while challenging students to expand their imagination on what they may achieve.

PROGRAM SUPPORT FUNDS | $100,000

This endowment will provide a source of flexible funding to meet immediate, short-term program needs of the Institute. Use of these resources will support ongoing programs and allow the Institute’s leadership to meet important needs and opportunities without negatively impacting the budget.

INNOVATION IN LEADERSHIP CURRICULA FUND | $100,000

The purposeful integration of leadership development into the academic curriculum will strengthen the University’s unique ability to produce graduates who lead with a balance of head and heart. This endowment will fund faculty grants for the development of innovative teaching and learning about leadership.

EXPERIENTIAL OPPORTUNITIES

Endowed funding will support experiential opportunities for Valpo students, providing them with the hands-on, real-world experience gained from internships, research projects, clinical experiences, Study Abroad, and service-learning trips. Students will gain knowledge and develop a deeper understanding of the world in which they will lead and serve.

PROGRAM FUNDS FOR THE ENTREPRENEURSHIP CENTER | $100,000

The Entrepreneurship Center, a joint venture of the Colleges of Business and Engineering, provides training and professional development experiences for students through the development and implementation of entrepreneurial projects and programs. Endowed funds will support Center programs, student and faculty projects, travel, and other strategic initiatives.

PROGRAM FUNDS FOR THE LAW SCHOOL CLINIC AND EXTERNSHIPS | $100,000

This endowment will support the expansion of experiential learning activities in the Law School, including enhancement of the Law School Clinics, adding more opportunities for students to work directly with clients. Externships will complement the clinics and offer workplace experiences for students.

NEED-BASED SCHOLARSHIPS FOR OFF-CAMPUS STUDY | $100,000

Off-campus study programs, domestic and international, provide Valpo students with challenging, real-world experiences. Unfortunately, some must decline the opportunities, as the cost to participate exceeds their available resources. This endowment will ensure that no Valpo student is denied the chance to participate due to their financial position.

FUND FOR NONPROFIT INTERNSHIPS | $50,000

Most nonprofits cannot afford to pay student interns and, while the experience can be invaluable, in many cases the student’s financial position hinders their ability to accept a nonpaying internship. This endowment will provide funds to support student internships at nonprofit entities, especially those that align closely with Valpo’s mission and vision.

VALPO CORE, CHRIST COLLEGE, AND CAPSTONE EXPERIENCES

From the day they step on campus through their final course, Valpo students experience a learning environment that is focused on their intellectual, spiritual, and creative formation. Valpo Core, Christ College Freshman Program, and senior capstone experiences provide the foundation on which students foster skills, attitudes, and work habits essential to success in academics and in life. Endowed funding will support these programs.

DIRECTOR OF VALPO CORE | $1,000,000

Valpo Core is the signature first-year formational experience for undergraduate students. The courses and instruction provide a foundation for key liberal arts content, while helping students develop skills they will use throughout their academic career. Endowed funding will support the strategic vision of the director and ensure the long-term stability and vitality of the program.

SENIOR SCHOLAR FOR VALPO CORE | $1,000,000

Establishment of this endowment will fund a curriculum-focused position to ensure that high quality teaching and learning remains a hallmark of Valpo Core. The senior scholar will be an experienced teacher, scholar, and faculty member who will work closely with the Core academic community to deliver a vibrant and engaging curriculum.

FUNDS FOR GUEST SCHOLARS, LECTURERS, ARTISTS, AND SENIOR CAPSTONE EXPERIENCES | $100,000

This endowment will provide funding for programs that enrich the student experiences delivered by Valpo Core, the Christ College Freshman Programs, and academic capstone projects. Endowed funds will support grants for supplies, equipment, travel, and program funds, and eligible to those engaged in these Valpo student experiences.

UNIVERSITY WRITING PROGRAM

A Valpo education prepares students for success in a global environment. Critical to this success is their ability to communicate effectively in relevant media and across cultures with strong writing skills. Established in 2012, as strategic initiative of the University, the writing program works to ensure the quality of students’ writing skills and effective writing instruction by faculty. Endowed funding will support the continued development of a comprehensive program that will benefit all undergraduate and Law School students.

DIRECTOR OF UNIVERSITY WRITING PROGRAM | $3,000,000

The resources from this endowment will support the strategic vision of the director, allowing further vertical alignment of writing into the curriculum, faculty development, and program assessment.

PROGRAM FOR FACULTY DEVELOPMENT IN WRITING | $1,000,000 FUNDED

Valpo faculty members are experts in their respective fields, but prior to the establishment of the University Writing Program most had little experience with writing instruction. This endowment will support an ongoing faculty development program that combines disciplinary expertise with best practices in teaching, learning, and skill development for writing instruction.

PROGRAM FUNDS FOR UNIVERSITY WRITING PROGRAM AND LEGAL WRITING PROGRAM | $100,000

The funds provided by this endowment will support activities that enhance and communicate the accomplishments of the programs. Valpo will feature the scholarly and pedagogical work of faculty, accomplishments of students, and the program’s success through conferences and symposia, presentations, and writings. Events will be hosted on the Valpo campus and attract a significant audience of peers, University community, and public.