Quinnipiac University and Office of Development and Alumni Affairs announced Saturday “For the Ambitious: A Campaign for the Next Century” — the first comprehensive fundraising campaign in the school’s history — aiming to raise $160 million for the university and its students. 

“We are heading into the next century of what Quinnipiac wants to become,” said Nick Wormley, vice president for development and alumni affairs. “Always looking at students and determining what their needs are is the No. 1 priority, so if we look at the campaign it really stemmed from the last five to six years of (President Judy) Olian being here and really talking about this ambitious campus that we have.”

The university hopes to allocate the goal amount across four different sectors — $55 million for building students’ scholarships and financial aid, $30 million for advancing faculty excellence and leadership, $50 million for launching innovative programs and $25 million for investing in capital projects. 

For scholarships, there are three options so far. The first is the Endowed Scholarship, starting at $100,000, Current Use Scholarships starting at $25,000 and the option to contribute to an already existing scholarship fund. 

Several school programs will also get an allocated amount. The Critical Conversations Speaker Series will get $1.5 million to continue bringing in esteemed speakers. The School of Computing and Engineering will get upgrades in regards to AI, 3D printing and much more, worth $15 million. Some funds will also go towards the recruiting and retaining faculty across all Quinnipiac schools. 

For athletics, $23 million will be allocated to “continue to recruit the best student-athletes and to upgrade several athletic facilities, all of which offer naming opportunities,” according to the campaign’s handbook.

That includes the $6.5 million that went towards the new men’s and women’s hockey suites, $5 million towards the baseball field, $2 million towards tennis facilities, $2 million for soccer/lacrosse field lightning, $5 million for basketball suites and $500,000 in Recreation and Wellness Center upgrades. 

The school will also focus $3 million towards the 23 recognized club sports. 

Wormley said that these numbers are just ballparks, something to reach for but hopefully will get surpassed. 

“We certainly engage alumni, parents, students from California to Boston in that philanthropic process,” said Wormley, who is a Class of 2000 undergraduate and Class of 2002 MBA graduate. “College tuition is not cheap, what we are trying to do is make sure that our alumni and our families and even our community members can provide an experience to the students and we don’t have to raise costs.”

$78 million was already raised according to the campaign’s website. 

Quinnipiac had the second-best retention rate since 2012 in Fall 2023, at 89%, according to John Morgan, associate vice president for public affairs. 

“Just over 60% of incoming students said that Quinnipiac was their first choice, so knowing that students want to come here is what really is driving the campaign,” Wormley said. 

The campaign was announced during the Quinnipiac and University of New Hampshire men’s hockey matchup Saturday, as well as before the game at a watch party at the Mount Carmel Campus. 

The watch party was held at the Recreational and Wellness Center. Jeanna Doherty ‘94, a member board of trustees and former president of the Alumni Board, spoke on the campaign.

“(This) will grow Quinnipiac for generations to come,” Doherty said. “The momentum is building, the moment is right now … and it is my honor to share what it all means in this exciting announcement.”

The university created this strategic plan in 2018 when Olian became president. This plan included renovations to the Recreational and Wellness Center and the creation of the South Quad and the “University of the Future.”  

“We have built so much together, but there is one more thing we have to do together,” Olian said in a speech during the announcement. “This afternoon, I am asking each of you to join us as we continue to build our future. With the support, assistance, engagement and energy of all of you, we will take Quinnipiac into our next century.”

The watch party featured a photo wall with the campaign name and slogan, as well as lawn chairs given to attendees with the name and slogan on the back.

“I think it’s great to hear that they’re trying to raise money to better the school, and hopefully add new programs (to) modernize and progress everything,” said Isabella Barret, a junior health science studies major. “I think it’s really important (to get) local food into cafeterias throughout all campuses, improving transportation with the shuttle … I think it’s really important for students, especially those without cars.”

In August 2023, students lost 145 parking spaces in North Lot due to the construction of tennis courts.

“I feel like (parking) is a big thing,” Barret said. “Juniors, I know, we don’t have a lot of spaces to park, so just making sure that everything is accessible for everybody, no matter if you have a car, or anybody with a disability too.”

Anyone can easily donate through the link at the campaign’s website, with pre-set amounts of $20.25, $50, $100, $500, $1,000 or $2,500; or set their own amount; choose where the donation should be targeted and choose their affiliation. Payments are accepted through Venmo, PayPal or ApplePay directly on the website.