Lincoln, Neb., Sept. 3, 2009 – The University of Nebraska Foundation has announced plans for a comprehensive fundraising campaign to meet high-priority opportunities and needs for the university’s four campuses. More details, including the campaign goal and leadership, will be announced later this fall. Campaign priorities will include student scholarships, faculty recruitment and retention, research and academic program support.

“This campaign is focused on opportunities for students, on expanding research in areas we are already renowned and on making a difference in Nebraska,” said James B. Milliken, president of the University of Nebraska. “The campaign will continue to build on the university’s tremendous momentum.”

Milliken said a campaign allows university supporters to rally around the recent successes, including steady increases in enrollment, and improvement in keeping more of the state’s top scholars in the state. He also pointed to the significant growth of the university’s research enterprise, which this year set a new record of $229.4 million in external funding, more than double what it was just eight years ago.

“These successes will help improve opportunities for Nebraskans and the quality of life in our state,” Milliken said.

Clarence Castner, president of the University of Nebraska Foundation, said NU’s history of successful campaigns is beneficial and is attributed to individuals and organizations in Nebraska and across the nation who care about the quality of the University of Nebraska.

“During the last campaign, the vision and generosity of our donors resulted in 1,000 new student scholarship funds, nearly 100 endowed faculty support program funds and the construction or renovation of 20 facilities,” Castner said. “This raises everyone’s expectations for what a new campaign can achieve for students, teachers, research programs and the citizens of this state who understand the importance of a great statewide university system.”

“The ultimate goal is that the investments made during this campaign have a transformative effect on the quality of the University of Nebraska, and ultimately on the state of Nebraska,” Milliken said. “Private support has been crucial to helping us attract students, recruit and retain the best teachers and researchers and invest in research equipment and facilities.”

The campaign is the university’s third comprehensive campaign. The Nebraska Campaign between 1977 and 1980 had a goal to raise $25 million and surpassed it by raising $51 million. The university’s last major campaign, Campaign Nebraska: One University, One Nebraska between 1993 and 2000 surpassed its initial goal of $250 million by raising $727 million for the university system.

The University of Nebraska Foundation is a private, nonprofit corporation that has raised private gifts to support the University of Nebraska for 73 years. Last year, it provided more than $130 million—the most ever—for students, faculty, academic programs, research, and for campus and building improvements on all four campuses. More information is available at nufoundation.org.