The University of Colorado at Boulder has established a "CU Campaign for Dillard University" to assist the New Orleans university in its rebuilding effort and has secured a $10,000 challenge grant from two anonymous donors in the first few days of the drive.
The challenge grant will match the first $10,000 in donations received by the campaign, which would ensure a total of $20,000 in contributions once the goal is met. The campaign aims to exceed this goal. Anyone interested in assisting Dillard University is welcome to contribute.
Dillard University, a private historically black liberal arts college of about 2,000 students, has been a "partner institution" with CU-Boulder since 2002, involving shared curriculum between the two campuses, joint programs involving students and faculty, summer research experiences and other programs. The partnership was initiated and is led by the ATLAS Institute at CU-Boulder, and involves a formal partnership agreement between the heads of the two campuses.
The challenge grant was announced this week by Bobby Schnabel, vice provost for academic and campus technology and director of ATLAS, as one part of a multifaceted effort to assist Dillard in its recovery effort.
Dillard has suspended its operations for the fall semester but is communicating with its students on ways they can continue to work on their degrees, including transferring credits from other institutions, while a plan for rebuilding is implemented. Dillard plans to resume operations for the spring 2006 semester.
"CU-Boulder is trying to assist our partner institution in whatever way we can, from providing assistance with Dillard's information and communication technology needs to possibly providing distance education courses for their students or providing temporary space for Dillard students, faculty or administration if desired," Schnabel said. "Dillard is a wonderful institution and an important part of this nation's academic fabric, and we are privileged to play a role in helping it come through this terrible situation."
In addition to the "CU Campaign for Dillard," CU-Boulder will host the main Dillard Web site, offering features such as updates, a locator service and interactive communities. Initial contacts in this effort are under way, Schnabel said. CU-Boulder's correspondence and online courses also are being examined to provide a sampling that will give displaced Dillard students another option for continuing their college careers on their own, while Dillard officials work on rebuilding the campus.
People who wish to donate to the "CU Campaign for Dillard," should go to the Web site for the United Negro College Fund at and follow the link at the top of the page. When filling out the form, donors should be sure to pull down the menu in the "Donation Type" section and select "Hurricane Katrina Relief - Dillard." In the "In Honor Gift" or "Memorial Gift" box, donors should write "University of Colorado Campaign for Dillard."