Organization of University Phase of campaign proceeding

The 38-member steering committee of the part of the major gifts effort directed to university faculty and staff agreed on the organizational structure last week and made plans to recruit additional volunteers.

A Faculty and Professional Staff Division will seek participation from the more than 1,500 individuals in that group. The division chair will help recruit 10 vice chairs and up to 80 other volunteers to conduct that part of the effort.

The Support Staff Division also will reach more than 1,500 potential campaign participants. The division chair will be assisted by a committee of volunteers.

The Administration Division will target about 120 deans, directors, department heads, and vice presidents. A chair and 10 vice chairs will work in that category.

The University Phase timetable adopted by the Steering Committee calls for planning and volunteer recruitment to be completed this month, so that informational meetings can begin in March.

Each university employee will have an opportunity in March to attend an awareness meeting to learn more about the campaign and its objectives. Multiple meetings will be scheduled for each division, and all will be held during regular working hours and will include question and answer sessions. Shuttle service will be provided to meeting sites.

The University Phase of the campaign is to be completed by the end of April, with a report to the university due in early May. During last week's second meeting of the full Steering Committee, the group also discussed ways of recognizing faculty and staff donors to the campaign.

The Campaign for Mississippi State is the university's first comprehensive major gifts effort. The five-year project officially began on July 1, 1992, and seeks gifts and pledges of $78 million in support of university goals in priority areas. By mid-October 1993, alumni and other friends of the university had given or pledged about $64 million.

The Executive Committee of the University Phase Steering Committee is made up of Dr. Dan Cantwell of the Animal Health Center, June Chressanthis of the Library, Johnie Cooks of the Athletic Department, Dr. Hank Flick of the Communication Department, Brent Funderburk of the Art Department, Dr. Robert Green of the Diagnostic Instrumentation and Analysis Laboratory, Carol Martin of Aerospace Engineering, Dr. Ed Milan of the School of Accountancy, Jan Peacock of the College of Arts and Sciences, Mildred Pettus of Physical Plant, Dr. David Smith of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, Joan West of the Bureau of Educational Research and Evaluation, and Dr. Larry White of the Finance and Economics Department. Campaign director Richard Bradford is working with the group.