Development docket

Jeffrey S. Russell (9K JPG)

— By Professor Jeffrey S. Russell, CEE Development Committee Chair

We are excited to launch the Capital Campaign. Our goal is to raise $25 million to support professorships, graduate research fellowships, laboratory modernization, and student activities. Our desire is to intentionally prepare for the future of civil and environmental engineering by partnering with our alumni and industry.

Our eyes must be fixed on the future. The civil and environmental engineering profession continues to evolve and change rapidly with technology. The world is moving toward a global digital economy and we must compete with engineers from all over the world. The question all universities must ask is: How can we proactively participate in shaping the future of the profession? Our future is intrinsically linked to the education of undergraduate and graduate students, the development of new technology, and providing continuing education for practicing professionals. The rate of change in technologies and processes will continue to accelerate.

We are in the people-building process. Clearly "what" and "how" we teach in the future is going to change. There will be a growing emphasis on experience and life-long learning. We need to be leading the profession in generating frontier knowledge that will be created through exploratory research. The transfer of these technologies to practice will result in improving the cost-effectiveness of engineered facilities and the quality of life.

The need for an intense effort to launch our educational programs into the future is clear. However, finding alternative funding becomes increasingly difficult as state monies are being reduced. The solution lies in our ability to co-labor with industry and alumni. This campaign is designed to build upon the success of our graduates, who began their careers at UW-Madison.

Let me share some examples of the excitement we are seeing among alumni. Oscar C. Boldt (BS CEE '48), chief executive officer of the Oscar J. Boldt Construction Co., provided the department with a $1 million endowment to support the Construction Engineering and Management Program. In appreciation for the support and education he received at UW-Madison, Arthur Hawnn (BS '59, MS '60, PhD '62 — all CEE) established two professorships — The Dr. Arthur F. Hawnn Professorship in Transportation and The Peterson-Rader-Hawnn Professorship in Civil & Environmental Engineering. Thomas W. Wilson (BS CEE '50) provided a $1 million life insurance policy.

In partnership with the Institute for Environmental Studies (IES), Roy F. Weston (BS CEE '33), chief executive officer emeritus of the Roy F. Weston Co., has established the Roy F. Weston Center for Sustainability. The Center has been initiated by a $1 million gift. The gift will be augmented with an additional estate gift. The late Arthur H. Frazier (BS CEE '28) initiated a graduate research fellowship along with funds for a lecture series in the water resources area. The Jerry Mullins (BS CEE '50) family has donated $25,000 to establish a student scholarship fund. Ned Bechtold (BS CEE '59), chief executive officer of Payne & Dolan Inc., along with Kurt Bechtold (BS CEE '85) and David Bechtold (BS CEE '89), have generously donated annual funds to the department for ongoing operations and academic improvements. Jerry McGinnis, chairman of the board of Embassy Construction and a 1952 graduate of the business construction administration program, has pledged $125,000 to the department, to be matched by the university, to create a $250,000 endowment for a graduate student fellowship.

Retired CEE faculty members have also invested in the future of the department through named professorships. Professors C.K. Wang, Chuck Salmon and the late Paul Wolf have all contributed substantial funds to their professorships. These professorships create a legacy that will honor those faculty members in generations to come. "I think that the best thing about my career was the students," said Wang, now living in Florida and enjoying an active retirement.

Wolf, who passed away this spring, voiced similar sentiments about his commitment to students. "All members of society bear responsibility for educating our young people, not just professors and teachers," he said. "All members of society benefit from well-educated students to replenish our ranks in all professions, and engineering is certainly no exception."

Our hope is that all our alumni will become excited about what the future holds and plan to invest in the department on an annual basis. We have raised approximately one-half of the endowment goals. We anticipate receiving the balance by 2012. Now is the time for us to solidify our financial resource base and strive to enhance our reputation and national ranking.

How can you become involved?

1. Consider making an annual donation to the department. Any size gift greatly contributes, especially when you participate annually.
2. Help host an alumni gathering in your area.
3. Join the alumni development committee. We want to create a network of alumni who work together with other alumni.
4. Make an estate gift. The UW Foundation has the expertise to assist in leveraging your assets and reducing your tax liabilities.
5. Provide a life insurance policy with the CEE Department as the beneficiary.

With your involvement we will exceed our investment goals. Be a part of shaping the future of the profession through supporting the education of our students, enhancing research, advancing technology, providing continuing education, and building our national and international reputation. Join us as we look towards the future of civil and environmental engineering.

Please stop in and see us if you are in town; I'm sure that you will see that the campus and department have changed.

Jeffrey S. Russell
Tel: 608/262-7244
E-mail: russell@engr.wisc.edu