Project targets university image

By Catherine Ragsdale
The Collegian

Fresno State’s Campaign Headquarters will have an open house in the newly remodeled Keats building on Friday.

Many students are not aware the program or campaign exists.

“Everybody knows there’s budget issues on this campus,” Ara Nalbandian, Fresno State senior said. “I haven’t heard anything about a campaign or fundraising though.”

The campaign first made an appearance on campus last fall with light-post banners that state various slogans with one unifying slogan, “Fresno State: The Engaged University.” The banners are still posted throughout campus, but few students have taken notice.

“I don’t pay attention to signs because they usually don’t affect me,” Fresno State senior Nurbir Bal said.
But Tania Gomez a senior at Fresno State has noticed them.

“I just thought they were to give an idea of what the university was about for newcomers or high school students touring the campus,” Gomez said.

The idea for the campaign started two years ago when Fresno State hired Mary Anna Dunn to direct the campaign.

Dunn had recently completed a major campaign that raised $1 billion for the University of Colorado. “The Colorado campaign involved endowments, some capital construction; Quite a lot of the money went to programs, like the library,” Dunn said.

According to Dunn, several types of campaigns exist. The building of the Save Mart Center was a very successful capital campaign. Fresno State, like the University of Colorado, is pursuing a comprehensive campaign, which involves all facets of the university.

The campaign committee decided on five themes for each facet of the university. The themes focuses on arts and cultures, economic growth, educating children, a healthier Valley and advancing world-class agriculture. Those themes are displayed on the various light-post banners.

“Our top tier projects fall under each of these themes. These themes are key to the campaign,” said Shannon Puphal, Director of Campaign Communications. “The overarching theme is improvement of the university as a whole.”

The national length standard for a comprehensive campaign is seven years. “The campaign has been in progress for a couple years, but the time has been spent putting together the right staff,” Puphal said. “We started counting July 1, 2005.”

According to Dunn, the overall goal is to transform the entire university. Dunn is scheduled to meet with the Campaign Steering Committee to discuss a working goal in dollar amount.

“When we achieve 50 percent of the working goal, the campaign will go public, which will be about another three years,” Dunn said.

She said they would review the campaign after some time, to determine whether it was on the right track or more money is needed or whether the working goal needs adjustments.

The campaign benefits the school and the Valley. Everyone is affected by the success of the campaign. Engaging more volunteers is vital to the success.

“Engaging volunteers gives the campaign a lot more person power. More people around the Valley can be reached,” Dunn said.

Campaign Headquarters is holding the open house on Friday to give students and Fresno State staff the chance to see the newly remodeled Keats building and home of the campaign.

“With a major campaign, the matter of building relationships is done personally,” Dunn said. “Not through letters.”

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