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 Alfred J. Finch, Jr., Ph.D., ABPP
Dean of Humanities & Social Sciences Colonel, SCM al.finch@citadel.edu  |
As a young boy growing up in rural Georgia, I remember being taught many behaviors that were acceptable and many that were not. Never ask a lady her age. Clean your plate. Never talk with your mouth full. Never talk to strangers. Always say “yes sir” and “no sir.” Take responsibility for your mistakes and never try and blame anyone else. Never ask anyone for money. Later in this article, I will violate one of these lessons.
Shortly after becoming Dean of the School of Humanities and Social Sciences (SHSS) at The Citadel, I attended a training session in New Orleans for deans and development officers. During this meeting I learned a number of things to do and a number of things not to do as a dean involved in fundraising. Emphasize the accomplishments. Make people feel part of a winning team – no one wants to think they are jumping on a sinking ship. Don’t share your concerns and fears. Act enthusiastic. Again, I will break one of these rules later in this article.
The Citadel is currently conducting a capital campaign and is attempting to raise $100,000,000. Many of you have been contacted to make contributions and have given generously. If you have already given, thanks for your support!
One aspect of our campaign is its organization according to schools. Each of the five schools (Business, Math and Science, Engineering, Education, and Humanities and Social Sciences) has certain items that have been targeted as needs. In SHSS we have identified five endowed areas as needs: Scholarships, Professors, Fellowships, an Endowed Chair, and a Dean’s Excellence fund. Each of these areas is very important to the school and its ability to continue providing the quality programs of which we are so proud.
Recently, I was asked about the Dean’s Excellence Fund. I thought now might be a good time to discuss what needs this fund is designed to address and request your support in our efforts to secure the resources needed to address them. The SHSS Dean’s Excellence Fund is designed to provide the dean flexible money to take advantage of opportunities and needs that arise. For example, we have started a number of new minors during the past few years. Some of these have been designed to help students develop a global perspective. The Dean’s Excellence Fund has allowed us to jump start these programs and to prepare our faculty to provide courses in areas they have not previously taught. For example, we have prepared a native speaking Korean faculty member to teach Korean language as a second language. This year we are doing the same thing with a native speaking Chinese faculty member. In addition, the funds have allowed us to provide additional student support for presentation of research findings at state, regional, and national meetings. Another student was provided support to study international law enforcement in Thailand. The Dean’s Excellence Fund also allows us to raise other funds. Recently, a donor requested that we offer matching funds for his gift to support a specific program. The Dean’s Excellence fund allowed us to do so. As a final example, we were recently given a substantial sum of money to establish an on-going outside speaker program. In order not to touch the initial gift, funds from the Dean’s Excellence fund were used for the first series of speakers until the funds began to generate income.
Why are such flexible funds not available through the state support? Isn’t The Citadel a state supported institution? Here is where I break the rule about not sharing concerns. Increasingly, state support has been decreased. It was not too long ago that the state of South Carolina provided The Citadel with a large portion of its budget. As recently as 2001, approximately a third of the budget came from the state. This level of support has decreased each year with only 18.1% of our current budget coming from state funds. The steady decline in state support has resulted in increases in tuition and decreases in the availability of funding for programs. However, we cannot depend on tuition alone and maintain the character of The Citadel. The financial leadership of The Citadel has done a wonderful job protecting programs but there is only so much they can do. Increasingly, we are making changes to save money rather than to maintain The Citadel as we know it – increasing enrollment; larger class size; more part-time faculty. We need a source of flexible funding that allows the Dean to address needs as they arise in the school and to meet new challenges
We are attempting to raise $5,000,000 for the SHSS Dean’s Excellence Fund. This amount of money will generate approximately $250,000 per year to enhance the programs in the school and to take advantage of opportunities that are presented. Let me present a couple of quick reminders. We teach all of the cadets – about 65% of the core curriculum – and the SHSS faculty constitutes approximately 40% of the entire Citadel faculty. Here is where I break one of the rules I learned as a young boy. I am asking you for money. Please give generously to the SHSS Dean’s Excellence Fund. Thanks in advance for sending your donations to the address below:
SHSS Dean’s Excellence Fund
Attention:
Joy A. Simpson, CFRE
Director of Development
The School of Humanities and Social Sciences
The Citadel Foundation
Holliday Alumni Center
The Citadel
171 Moultrie Street
Charleston, SC 29409
