Alverno College Exceeds $30 Million Capital Campaign Goal
January 21, 2015
Alverno College exceeded its original $30 million capital campaign goal in December,
raising a total of $32,793,000. The expansion and renovation, which broke ground in
March of 2014, is the most significant enhancement in the college's 128-year history.Improvements
include a new classroom building, a state-of-the-art nursing simulation center for
the JoAnn McGrath School of Nursing and the creation of a new, larger student commons
to enhance the student experience.
“This is an investment in the city of Milwaukee as well as an investment in Alverno,”
said Mary J. Meehan, Ph.D., president of Alverno College. “Our alums are leaders in
business, healthcare and education, and since 80% of our graduates live and work in
Wisconsin, we truly are having an impact locally.”Alverno alumnae include Fullbright
Scholars, college deans and department heads, CEOs and senior executives, a Guggenheim
Fellow and a MacArthur Genius Award winner.
Construction began in 2014, and is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2015.“Alverno
hosts many national and international guests because of our unique curriculum, and
our new spaces offer an opportunity to shine a light on the city as well as on our
college,” Meehan said.
Campaign Details
In order to finance the improvements, a fundraising campaign began in 2011 led by
Paul Purcell, CEO of Robert W. Baird, Don Layden, Partner, Quarles & Brady LLC, and
Ellen Gardner, '69, retired President of Ameritech-Wisconsin.Alverno alumnae gave
more than $8.7 million, a record contribution from alumnae. Many staff, faculty, and
students also contributed to the campaign.
“Alverno has always been dedicated to student success,” said Gardner. “These improvements
mean the college is better equipped to meet the needs of its students, and in turn
have a greater impact on their futures, their careers and their lives.”Gardner, an
Alverno College alumna, was one of the first female CEOs in Wisconsin. She spent 30
years with Ameritech, now AT&T, working her way up from a management trainee to president,
all while helping to manage the company's transition from a telephone company to the
full service, competitive communication business it is today.
Project Details
The expansion and improvements focused on the following areas:
Nine new high-tech classrooms help Alverno accommodate its growing enrollment and
connect students with online learning resources around the world.
A new high-fidelity nursing simulation center enables nursing students to practice
skills in life-like settings. Alverno's JoAnn McGrath School of Nursing has the largest
enrollment in the state, and the new simulation center will ensure a nursing degree
from Alverno continues to be a hallmark of excellence.
An expanded commons provides a spacious, comfortable gathering place for students,
faculty and staff. Featuring a larger food service area, a coffee shop and private
group study rooms, the new commons gives the Alverno community a strong center. In
addition, a heritage plaza with outdoor seating connected to the dining hall honors
the School Sisters of St. Francis, founders of Alverno College.
A new “Student Main Street” combines advising, financial aid, career planning and
other critical student services in one easy-to-access location adjacent to the new
commons.
A new art education suite doubles the classroom space devoted to art and dance education.
Since nearly 40 percent of Alverno students take courses in art and dance every year,
the expansion ensures students have the space they need to develop their creativity.
In recognition of a generous gift from the Bucyrus Foundation, the conference center
in the Sister Joel Read Center will be expanded and renamed the Bucyrus Conference
Center and will allow greater service to the broader community.
Thanks to a considerable gift from A. O. Smith Corporation, the International and
Intercultural Office is now named the A. O. Smith International and Intercultural
Office.
All of the improvements include energy-efficient lighting; flooring, furnishings and
fixtures with a low environmental impact; and energy-efficient heating and air conditioning
wherever possible. The expanded commons area also features a green roof that will
absorb rainfall, reduce reflected heat and be the most visible of several efforts
to help the environment and reduce energy costs.
The public can follow the progress of the construction at http://promise.alverno.edu/. The site includes the latest news, a project overview and timeline, photos, videos,
regular updates and frequently asked questions.
Published on January 21, 2015 | Categories: Newsroom migrated press release