GIVING OPPORTUNITIES

YOUR DOLLARS AT WORK

During the past five years, the VCU School of Education has raised almost $2 million in philanthropic gifts from alumni and friends. These gifts are making a real difference to students, faculty, and staff. The following are just a few examples of how gifts are being used:

Program Support

Unrestricted annual fund gifts and gifts to support specific programs in the school are invaluable sources of funding for such needs as: visiting lecturers, materials acquisition, professional development, travel to conferences, and support for student research activities. For example, the John S. Oehler Lecture in Educational Leadership has brought nationally known speakers to our campus to present and meet with students and faculty.

Student Support

Over 40 students receive financial assistance from endowed scholarships, fellowships, awards, and annual gifts to help them complete their degrees. As just one example, the Virginia Arnold Scholarship helped fund a military veteran who was returning to school to become a teacher. The Howard Garner Scholarship provides support for students in special education studying developmental disabilities.

Support for Faculty

The Ruth Harris Fellowship and Professorship in Special Education was established in 2007. When fully funded, this endowed professorship will provide supplemental research support to a faculty member in the area of dyslexia. In Spring 2009, funds from the chair will be used to support doctoral fellowships.

Endowed professorships allow the school to attract and retain top faculty from around the country to continue their teaching and research at VCU.