USask surpasses $428-million mark in major giving campaign

With a year to go, $428,322,860.34 has been raised through the campaign, which has a goal of $500 million. More than 18,000 alumni have donated, along with approximately 1,400 corporations, 5,000 individuals and 400 foundations. A total of 92,784 donations have been made.

“Thanks to the incredible support from our community of alumni, donors and friends, we are making remarkable strides towards our goal of raising $500 million. But we need champions to help us cross the finish line,” said USask President Peter Stoicheff. “Together, we can meet this goal and ensure USask succeeds in its mission of tackling the world’s greatest challenges.”

Today’s milestone announcement included a community celebration at Merlis Belsher Place, where more than 500 people gathered to hear an update on the campaign’s progress and learn about the role alumni and the community can play in reaching the fundraising goal.

Funds raised will go toward work in four main areas. The first is leading critical research, aimed at increasing the number of endowed research chairs, supporting graduate student funding, and providing undergraduate research experiences. Next, we will support Indigenous achievement by creating funds for scholarships and bursaries, new programming, support for learners and reducing barriers to post-secondary education. Third is a focus on student success by creating new scholarships and bursaries, technology support, mentorship programming and other initiatives that support the health and success of our learners. Finally, visionary spaces will be designed, including those for the Colleges of Dentistry and Engineering, the Prince Albert campus, the Emma Lake Kenderdine campus, upgraded libraries and improved classrooms and laboratories.

One of the ambitious projects featured in the campaign is transforming the Engineering Building through the Innovation, Design, Engineering, and Applied Sciences (IDEAS) Expansion. The $90-million capital project will create a facility encouraging focused study and the vibrant exchange of ideas and creativity. These are necessary skills for emerging leaders in the profession. 

“Engineering isn't an individual sport. The projects are just too big for any one person,” explains Lisa Feldman, department head and professor of civil geological and environmental engineering at USask. “Engineering education isn't just about students coming here to go to class and then running home again. We want them to have comfortable spaces here to work, collaborate and to learn from each other.”

“The IDEAS space will provide hands-on experience, so our emerging engineers are equipped to provide the effective design solutions needed in the real world,” Feldman said.

The problems of today are unlike anything we have seen before and continue to grow in scope and complexity. As the world changes, one thing remains the same — engineers play a critical role in solving problems that impact our lives. This holds true for all the researchers, scholars and artists working across USask’s campuses.

The projects supported so far in the campaign are broad and varied. One gift provided transformative support for mental health and wellness for students through a new fund.  There are updated tennis courts, a mobile unit for rural health, support for kids’ camps and updated classrooms with new technology and equipment. A new research chair in Métis Governance and Policy is the first of its kind in Canada.

“We have the momentum and clear support we need to find success. We know donors want to connect with causes that are meaningful to them, and USask offers an incredible range of possibilities for those looking to create change and leave a legacy,” said Cheryl Hamelin, vice-president, University Relations. “We are thrilled with how far we’ve come, and are confident in how the rest of this story will unfold.”

Find the case for support for the Campaign for the University of Saskatchewan here.

Learn more about the campaign and how to get involved on our website.

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For media inquiries, contact: 
Daniel Hallen 
USask Media Relations 
daniel.hallen@usask.ca 
306-966-6922