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(Wolfville,
NS) - The Associated Alumni of Acadia University (AAAU)
today announced that it will invest more than $650,000 in support of
new student, faculty and alumni initiatives.
The announcement,
which was made by Gordon Lummis, AAAU president, detailed the
contribution which will provide funding for a Learning Commons,
programs to acknowledge excellence in teaching, research, and
community involvement, along with general scholarships.
“In supporting these
projects we believe we are helping to sustain the core purpose of
Acadia which focuses on the primary goals of the University –
students, faculty and alumni learning together,” said Gordon Lummis,
President AAAU.
A $600,000 donation
towards the Hayward /Alumni Learning Commons in McConnell Hall is
not only in keeping with Acadia’s commitment to students, faculty
and alumni but also the vision of Acadia alumna Constance Hayward
(’27) who made a $100,000 donation to the AAAU in 1983 to establish
a place for alumni to share special memories.
“This is a tremendous
gift to Acadia and its alumni,” said Dr. Gail Dinter-Gottlieb,
Acadia President. “Thanks to the generosity of Constance Hayward and
the AAAU, the Learning Commons will be a place where students can
sharpen their academic skills and alumni can gather for meetings,
class reunions and other events.”
The total gift of
$600,000 from the AAAU will come in three ways. First, the AAAU will
donate $400,000 from the invested Constance Hayward fund and then
pledge to raise an additional $100,000 over the next three years.
Finally, the original $100,000 Hayward Fund will be kept "In Trust"
– the income from this trust fund will go towards the operating
expenses of the Learning Commons.
“We believe this is an
ideal way for the AAAU to acknowledge the Constance Hayward gift,”
said Gordon Lummis, AAAU president. “Having an alumni presence on
campus was important to Miss Hayward and we want to help maintain
this important relationship between the community and Acadia
University.”
The Hayward/Alumni
Learning Commons will create a closer alignment of curricular,
co-curricular and extra-curricular activities. It will provide a
central location on campus that focuses on Acadia's principal
functions: teaching and learning and will provide a focus for
intellectual stimulation on campus.
It is envisioned that
the Learning Commons will have four components: The Centre for
Curriculum, Teaching and Learning, where effective student learning
is explored and faculty initiatives that involve engaged learning
are supported; the Institute for Civic Engagement, whose mandate
will be to involve students in meaningful community projects that
enhance their learning experience and provide service to agencies
and organizations who might benefit from student expertise; the
Centre for Internationalization, which will focus on coordinating
the University’s international initiatives and maximize the
potential Acadia has with students from such diverse backgrounds and
finally, the Centre for Student Support, which will consist of a
Writing, Mathematics and Advising Centre.
The Hayward/Alumni
Learning Commons will also include a lounge for alumni to hold
reunions and other special gatherings along with a boardroom to be
called the Alumni Boardroom. These rooms will display photos of past
alumni presidents and other Acadia memorabilia.
The remainder of the
donation will be in support of two Excellence in Teaching, Research,
Community Involvement awards, an initiative of the Vice-President
Academic which will recognize faculty research and community
involvement. In addition, general scholarships will also be funded
by the AAAU. These scholarships will recognize students who excel
academically and are also involved in extra-curricular activities
and community service.
The purpose of The
Associated Alumni of Acadia University is to bring about the unity
of graduates and former students of Acadia University and to afford
them the opportunity to promote the best interests of the
University.
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