RIPON, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — Ripon College is making history, again.
On Saturday, during the inauguration of the college’s first woman president in the school’s 172-year history, Ripon announced the public launch of its Forever Ripon Campaign.
The $75 million campaign is the largest in school history.
During the quiet phase of the campaign, which began July 1, 2020, the college secured more than $52 million in commitments toward its overall goal. Every Ripon College Trustee has made a gift to the campaign, and 38% of alumni have either made a financial commitment since the campaign began or volunteered in some capacity.
Forever Ripon, which is scheduled to reach its goal by June 30, 2025, focuses on three funding priorities:
Endowment Growth ($40 million)
- Creating Access ($25 million) — Endow student access and retention scholarships while increasing opportunities for Ripon students to engage with faculty for scholarship and research.
- Curricular Development and Innovation ($15 million) — Endow new and existing faculty positions and experiential programming for students.
Facility Enhancement ($20 million)
- Franzen Science Center, Hopp Stadium and residence hall upgrades
Ripon Fund ($15 million)
- Provide crucial flexibility to the College’s budget, enabling leadership to respond to the highest and most immediate financial needs on campus.
On Friday, more than 500 guests and donors gathered on Ripon’s campus to ceremonially break ground on the Franzen Science Center and Hopp Stadium. Hopp Stadium will open in the fall of 2023, and a fall 2024 opening is projected for the Franzen Science Center.
The announcement of the fundraiser comes as the health of small colleges in Wisconsin is in the spotlight. On April 10, Cardinal Stritch University in Milwaukee announced it would close at the end of the school year. Last week, Marian University in Fond du Lac said it would make cuts to remain financially healthy.
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