Giving Priority for the College
Scholarships – Goal $3 Million
The College of Arts & Sciences, commonly known as CAS, offers classes to every undergraduate at the University as part of its general education curriculum, as well as specialized courses in the arts, humanities, natural sciences, and social sciences. From the study of the atom and the simplest forms of life to the most complex issues affecting the economy and politics of our society, CAS offers more than 50 undergraduate and graduate degrees ranging from the specialized to the interdisciplinary.
All this is possible through nearly 30 departments and programs in the College that deliver the curriculum through about 350 faculty members teaching approximately 8,000 students every year. More than 850 students each year earn their degree through the College.
As CAS looks to the future, it’s incumbent upon us to meet the needs of our students and align our goals with changing regional demographics. The total number of high school graduates will decline over the next two decades by 15 percent nationally, while the Midwest is set to lose 93,000 graduates – a decline of 19 percent.
For CAS to continue at our current enrollment pace or even increase it, we’ll need to find new ways of educating a student body increasingly composed of people who are the first in their family to enter college. Often these students tend to have fewer financial resources, and it will be necessary for us to expend more resources to help students handle the costs of college.
In 2019 CAS celebrated its largest Honors Day in 25 years by awarding more than 233 students with scholarships. Scholarships reward student achievement and bridge the gap for students with financial need. They lower student debt while providing all of our departments with a distinct incentive for recruitment and retention. Over the next five years, CAS seeks to increase the total number of scholarship opportunities to meet the needs of our students and a changing demographic. Our goal is to raise $3 million dollars in scholarship funding across all disciplines from donors to ensure the success of the College and meet the changing needs of our students.
Giving Options
The generosity of alumni, parents, corporate and foundation supporters, and friends helps us with our short-term needs and our long-term goals. The College of Arts and Sciences includes more than two dozen departments and programs, from Anthropology to Women’s Studies. You can direct your support to the department or program of your choosing or any initiative that they are engaged in, such as scholarship or travel.
Where and how you choose to give is entirely up to you. When making a gift online, click the Fund Options bar and search for the name of the department, program or scholarship. You can also enter the fund number to locate specific initiatives. If you cannot find what you are looking for or would like to know a fund number, please contact Kyle Moore at 618-650-5048 or [email protected].
