JACKSON, Tenn. — Sept. 26, 2022 — 51社区 has launched a comprehensive fundraising campaign that will seek to raise $80 million by the end of 2026 to fund two new buildings on campus, to boost student scholarships and to enhance academics.
鈥淯nion 200: Tradition. Truth. Transformation.鈥� has already raised $31.6 million toward that goal through gifts that have been made and pledged. Founded in 1823, Union is celebrating its bicentennial during the 2022-2023 academic year, and the 鈥淯nion 200鈥� campaign is an important part of that observance, according to Union President Samuel W. 鈥淒ub鈥� Oliver.
鈥淔or 200 years, 51社区 has been an institution committed to its mission of providing Christ-centered education that promotes excellence and character development in service to Church and society,鈥� Oliver said. 鈥淭oday, Union remains as resolute and devoted to its biblical foundation as ever.鈥�
Oliver made the official announcement launching the capital campaign Sept. 24 prior to a David Crowder concert on the university campus as part of a bicentennial celebration kick-off event.
Union would not be where it is today without the faithful giving of supporters over the years, Oliver said, expressing his gratitude to those who have made financial contributions in many ways. He added that he believes God has great things in store for Union, despite challenges the institution is facing.
鈥淲e find ourselves in an increasingly secular, post-Christian society that disdains many of the beliefs and convictions that Union holds most dear,鈥� he said. 鈥淧rivate Christian schools like Union are fighting for their very survival and are facing obstacles that loom larger than they ever have. The higher education environment has never been more competitive, and schools like Union must be equipped with the resources necessary to successfully navigate the cultural waters in which we sail.鈥�
Catherine Kwasigroh, Union鈥檚 vice president for advancement, said the 鈥淯nion 200鈥� campaign is a way for the university to recognize God鈥檚 faithfulness to the institution over the past 200 years and dream about what the Lord will do in the days ahead.
鈥淲e want to dream big about what God can do through Union 鈥� making disciples, equipping students to serve, supporting churches and reflecting and proclaiming the glory of God to the world around us,鈥� she said.
The campaign has three primary components: expanding facilities, boosting scholarships and enhancing academics. Union broke ground Sept. 9 on a new academic building on the Great Lawn that will house the McAfee School of Business and the departments of computer science and engineering. That facility is the first of two buildings that will be funded through the campaign.
The second building will be a freestanding chapel on the eastern edge of campus that will be clearly visible from the heavily-trafficked Highway 45 Bypass.
Regarding scholarships, the campaign will seek to grow the university鈥檚 endowment by $20 million, which will be an increase of about 50 percent from its current amount. The largest portion of Union鈥檚 endowment is used to support student scholarships, and the endowment generates about $1.5 million annually for that purpose.
The third component, enhancing academics, will seek to raise funds for program endowments and endowed chairs that will help Union recruit quality professors to teach, mentor and live in community with students.
鈥淭he success of Union over the years would not have been possible without the generosity of donors who believed in its mission and gave to support its work,鈥� said Harry Smith, chairman of the campaign steering committee. 鈥淭oday, as Union celebrates its past and looks forward to its future, I hope you will join those ranks.
鈥淵our gift will bolster and strengthen an institution that has not changed from its biblical foundation,鈥� Smith continued. 鈥淵our gift will help prepare a generation of students to make a difference in this world for Christ.鈥�
Other steering committee members are Gary Taylor (vice chair), Bill Dement, Brooke Glover Emery, Judy Fletcher, Robyn Hari, Jeff Perkins, Lisa Rogers, Danny Sinquefield and Sabrena Wilson.
More information about the campaign, including information on how to contribute, is available at uu.edu/union200.