Peterson honors donor, announces plans for university expansion
The crowd at Old Main rose to their feet at university Chancellor G.P. “Bud” Peterson’s announcement of the largest donation in University of Colorado history during his annual address Tuesday.
The university accepted $20 million this summer as a contribution to the science department from current chemistry professor, and recent recipient of the National Medal of Science, Dr. Marvin Caruthers.
Following the standing ovation, Peterson explained the university’s plans to use the funds to construct a brand-new biotechnology building on the east campus. The new building will be named the Jennie Smoly Caruthers Building on behalf of Caruthers’ late wife.
In addition to the generous donation from Caruthers, there was a 40 percent increase in fundraising this past year, bringing the total to $44.5 million.
Raising funds to invest in future initiatives was only one of the many strides Peterson said the university plans to take in the coming year.
With such a huge increase in financial support, and a freshmen class that the chancellor called “more focused on academics and scholarship,” he and the university feel well prepared to begin work on the new strategic plan.
Additions to the university this year include, what the chancellor called, “a comprehensive array of programs.”
This includes the technology-friendly text messaging alert system, graduate student program Flagship 2030, twenty new tenured positions for faculty and an overall campus-wide effort to increase student diversity.
“I see a community involved in intellectual diversity here at CU,” Peterson said when announcing newly installed Vice Chancellor for Diversity, Sallye McKee.
Peterson suggested with great enthusiasm that the student body continue to enhance diversity in all its forms.
“Our cultural backgrounds make us better people,” Peterson said. “We should work together, and elevate CU to new heights.”
Peterson said he has confidence in building the future of theuniversity on the strength of its people.
Looking back on the “whirlwind adventure” of his fourteen months at CU, Peterson spoke highly of the current student body.
“We’ve made tremendous strides, increasing responsiveness to issues as they unfold,” he said.
His strategic plan for strengthening core operations at CU, elevating the university’s reputation and gaining more faculty and student commitment, will be released in a draft early next week.
Peterson will also be hosting an open forum to discuss the plan October 1.
“There is still much more to do to complete the strategic plan to help shape CU,” he said in concluding his address. “Let’s create a new reality to benefit all.”
Contact Campus Press Staff Writer Clare Lane at clare.lane@colorado.edu
