Dear Parent,

Every donation to the Parents Fund at the University at Albany directly benefits your son or daughter. Contributions have an  immediate effect on the University’s efforts to improve on our outstanding academic programs and opportunities offered to your child.

As a parent, your donation reinforces the strong belief you hold that your student is receiving a top notch education from the University at Albany, and reflects your pride in their accomplishments.

Unrestricted gifts made to the University at Albany through the Parents Fund help fund both academic and non-academic programs that directly impact the life of your son or daughter. Recent gifts from parents like you contributed towards the development of the University’s Outdoor Leadership Challenge Course and to a student lounge and entertainment area in one of the penthouses on campus.

You may be wondering why the University is asking you to contribute funds above and beyond tuition and fees payments for your student. With the decline in state and federal aid to education, the need for private support continues to increase annually. Thus, to continue with the wide array of opportunities offered here, your support is crucial for our success.

We hope to gain your support as we continue with our vision to build on our strengths to create a university that is not only a leader, but relevant to a new century and cause for pride among its students, alumni, faculty, friends, parents, and fellow citizens.

Making a contribution is easy! You can make a gift online today that will enable us to work on programs that will benefit your son or daughter tomorrow. Questions?

Take a look at our programs:

Senior Class Challenge
Each Spring, Parents are contacted by letter asking for a donation in support of the Senior Class Challenge. Funds raised in this effort support the annual Senior Class Gift. Parents are encouraged to make gifts in honor of their graduating senior. Gifts of $100 and up are recognized in the student’s name in the Commencement program.

Outdoor Student Leadership Challenge Course
This project is intended to supplement the learning that takes place in a classroom or research lab. It focuses on experiential learning and physical challenges and activities as a means of developing the participant’s self-confidence, creative thinking, problem solving, and general leadership skills, as well as group trust, communication, and cooperation. The typical outdoor challenge course consists of ground, low rope and high rope elements and can easily be adapted to include additional types of courses. The project was completed in Spring 2003.

UAlbany Nights, On Campus Late Night Alternative Activities
This project is intended to create more “late night” opportunities for students who might otherwise choose to go off-campus. Parents Fund support will assist in underwriting a special late night event each week in a residence hall penthouse. Students, residence hall staff, and Chartwell’s dining services are developing ideas that would be attractive for all UAlbany students. A variety of late night snacks and non-alcoholic beverages would be provided as the students listened to a band, deejay, or possibly even sang with a karaoke machine. The goal is to offer attractive alternatives on campus for students to come together in a safe, alcohol-free environment.

Designations
Traditional Areas of Parents Fund Support

• Commencement/Honors Convocation
• Career Development Center
• Career Service Office
• Center for English Language Learning and Research (self-tutorial center-useful for students who wish to study abroad)
• General Scholarship Fund (apply through general financial aid application in the Financial Aid Office)
• Interactive Media Center (self-tutorial center in the library)
• Library (purchase of books, periodicals, journals, etc.)
• Middle Earth Counseling Services
• Presidential Scholarships
• Project Renaissance (cluster groups for incoming freshmen to provide small school atmosphere)
• Teaching Assistance (funded through graduate fellowships)
• Upgraded campus computers
• Art Museum
• Writing Center (through English Department)
• Writers Institute Lecture Series
• Writers Institute Writers in Residence Program

Remember, Parents Fund money does not support the following: food service, more classes, fraternities, sororities, religious groups, or political organizations.

More information