Campaign for Excellence

Saying he is "energized and excited" by the opportunities ahead, Washington University Board of Trustees Chairman William H. Danforth announced the Campaign for Washington University, a major initiative to raise $1 billion in gift support, to assembled reporters and photographers at a news conference Saturday, Sept. 19.

The same evening, the campaign was formally launched at a special event for more than 1,300 invited guests at the America's Center in downtown St. Louis. Those attending included community leaders, faculty, student leaders, alumni, parents and friends from the St. Louis area, throughout the United States and around the world. (See separate story.)

The theme of the campaign, "A Partnership for the 21st Century," emphasizes the important relationship between the University and society.

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University wins prized HHMI grant

Washington University is one of 58 U.S. universities that will share in $91.1 million in four-year grants from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) to improve the quality of science education for American college students.

The grants, which range between $1.2 million and $2.2 million, bring to more than $425 million the amount awarded since 1988 through HHMI's undergraduate grants program, the largest private initiative in U.S. history to enhance undergraduate science education nationwide.

The universities will use the grants to expand research opportunities for undergraduates, update science courses and curricula, attract new faculty in emerging fields of science and modernize laboratories with new scientific equipment and technology.

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Committee proposes ways to improve research support services

A steering committee with a mandate to evaluate Washington University's research support services has issued its report along with recommendations to improve grant support and technology transfer services.

In October 1997, Chancellor Mark S. Wrighton commissioned a Universitywide analysis of research support services, asking Theodore J. Cicero, Ph.D., vice chancellor for research, to spearhead the initiative.

Cicero launched the Research Support Services Assessment Project in response, to assess the satisfaction of faculty, administrators and schools with the quality and services provided by the University's research administration functions, to develop data-driven analyses of the existing processes and policies, to uncover issues related to the federal government's goal of on-line management of grants and to determine whether opportunities exist to improve service to the faculty.

Wrighton also appointed a steering committee to work with Cicero in setting the vision and strategic direction for the project, to oversee its execution and to ensure the results were communicated.

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