TC Communique Issue 1, Number 8

Setting financial priorities at Teachers College, Columbia University

The trustees of Teachers College unanimously adopted the recommendations submitted by the Financial Priorities Committee at the trustees' May 7 meeting.

Their vote in support of the recommendations culminates 18 months of work by FPC members drafting a financial strategic plan for the College and setting priorities for TC's upcoming fundraising campaign.

"This has been a very important task," said Joseph Brosnan, Vice President for Development and External Affairs and chairman of the FPC. "What we've done is to provide a foundation for the future of the institution. Having priorities that will drive the campaign is extraordinarily important."

The committee was made up of a diverse group of alumni, faculty, professional staff, supervisors, students and trustees. In a series of meetings during the academic year, the FPC heard reports on plans for the future of TC and what is required to make those plans a reality from senior College administrators, faculty members and students.

The final recommendations are an attempt to balance academic and physical plant needs. They also serve as goals for the TC faculty, staff, alumni and trustees who will be raising funds as part of a Capital Campaign.

Attracting and Retaining an Outstanding Student Body

The quality of our students directly impacts the quality of education in New York and in America. We educate teachers, superintendents and educational leaders. The case for supporting scholarships is always a powerful one. That is especially true at Teachers College. Currently, the average financial aid award at TC is $4,500 and only 25 percent of the students receive aid.

Campaign Goal:

• Doctoral Student Research Scholarships -- $11 million;
• Urban Teacher Corps Scholarships -- $9 million;
• Masters Student Professional Assistantships -- $8.5 million.

Attracting and Retaining Excellent Faculty

In order to successfully recruit and retain an excellent faculty and provide exceptional instruction, Teachers College needs the financial ability to offer the honor and recognition that endowed chairs bring. The College also needs to invest in professional development in order to continue to provide outstanding and cutting-edge instruction.

Campaign Goal:

• Professorships -- $9 million;
• Professional Development -- $3 million.

Providing Outstanding Academic Programs and Instruction

One year after the reorganization of academic programs, the new department chairs were given a challenge: develop strategic plans and determine how much additional funding would be needed to enact those plans. The list they came up with had several elements in common, including support for current and new department initiatives and professional development for faculty.

Campaign Goal:

• Academic and Department Initiatives -- $7 million.

An Innovation Fund to Fund New Opportunities as They Arise

The world of education is changing rapidly and TC Capital Campaign is five years long. Over the course of those five years, opportunities will arise and priorities will have to shift. The College needs to set aside funds to support new goals as they develop over the next five years. For example, the fund would be used to finance new institutes and new technologies.

Campaign Goal:

• Innovation Fund -- $8 million.

Investing in the Future Through Distance Learning and Technology

Online education and video conferencing will create new opportunities for exchanging ideas with national and international scholars. Distance learning could dramatically increase the impact TC has on education and education policy. Our ability to deploy and to support technology will determine how TC is positioned for the future. The trustees authorized the use of some money from the endowment fund last year to jump start technological improvements, but much more work has to be done. The College must continue to make technological renovations in classrooms, laboratories and the library.

Campaign Goal:

• Distance Learning -- $3.5 million;
• Technological Renovations in labs, the library and classrooms -- $4 million;
• Infrastructure Investments -- $2.1 million.

Enhancing the Learning Environment

Teachers College wants to change the intellectual and social environment for its students. Providing the best possible Student Life Center will help create a learning community where students and faculty can freely exchange ideas in a comfortable atmosphere. Student professional development is an area that TC wants to improve. One way to help young scholars is to subsidize their costs to attend conferences where they present papers. TC also wants to create an environment where people with disabilities have equal opportunities to interact and to contribute to the campus culture. That is why the College is committed to the removal of barriers to access. In addition, the College wants to expand its ability to provide child care. The center would benefit both parents and researchers.

Campaign Goal:

• Student Professional Development -- $2.1 million;
• Student Program Enhancement -- $1 million;
• Renovation of Facilities -- $1.5 million;
• Child Care Center -- $300,000;
• Special Access Projects -- $500,000.

Improving the Physical Plant and Providing Necessary Equipment

Decades of deferred maintenance and repairs must be addressed. Money is needed to fuel the beginning of a series of projects, including renovating classrooms, repairing roofs and windows, and increasing accessibility for individuals with disabilities. While it was recommended that $13 million be allocated for Critical Plant Repairs, the "salability" of some of those repairs to donors tempered the amount the FPC recommended to be included in the campaign.

Campaign Goal:

• Classrooms -- $15 million;
• Horace Mann -- $3.4 million;
• Milbank Memorial Library -- $5 million;
• Critical Plant Repairs -- $6 million.

Future Reports about the Launch of the Capital Campaign and its Progress

This is the final issue of the TC Communique. The Communique has been produced by the Office of External Affairs to keep the TC community informed about the work of the Financial Priorities Committee. Back issues of the Communique are posted on the TC Web site, http://www.tc.columbia.edu/~newsbureau/, and to the columbia.tc.fpc newsgroup. A new publication will be produced after the Capital Campaign is formally launched to ensure that the TC community keeps up with progress of fundraising efforts, special gifts to the College, and other new developments.