Chapman Stadium at the University of Tulsa
The University of Tulsa has received an anonymous gift of $30 million from a group of donors that includes former student-athletes of the university.
The funds will go to TU’s Athletics Endowment Fund, as a lead gift toward the goal of funding all athletic scholarships at the university from an endowment eventually totaling $100 million. When completed, the proceeds from the endowment will fund cost of attendance scholarships for student-athletes in perpetuity.
“I am deeply grateful that I can wrap up my career as a collegiate athletics director by announcing this important gift, which will leave University of Tulsa athletic director Rick Dickson, in the university’s press release. Dickson, who announced his retirement earlier this year, added, “There is no way to thank these donors enough for their leadership, generosity, and commitment to our shared alma mater.”
The University of Tulsa is private research university with a total enrollment of 3,769 (2,647 undergraduate and 1,122 graduate/law) students. It's a member of the American Athletic Conference and competes in 17 intercollegiate sports with about 470 student-athletes.
“This extraordinary gift will change the lives of many young people,” added University of Tulsa President Brad Carson. “It’s a game-changer for our athletics program and a testament to the belief in our vision for UTulsa Athletics. We are confident that this endowment will enable us to attract and retain the best talent, enhance our facilities, and compete at the highest levels.
The TU gift is just the latest indication of a new push by major universities to raise private money for their athletic programs.
Last month, Baylor University announced a $10 million gift from Ft. Worth executive Bob Simpson, which will be used to enhance several components of Baylor’s athletic program.
Utah State University has launched a $125 million “Reach and Rise” fundraising campaign for its intercollegiate athletics program, with more than $20 million being raised so far to enhance the overall student-athlete experience, increase funding for recruiting and retaining student-athletes and staff, enhance facilities, and support student-athlete scholarships.
The University of California, Santa Barbara secured a $5 million gift to endow its Director of Athletics position. And Missouri State University, in Springfield, Missouri, received a $5 million donation from alum Tom Strong to help pay for its move to Conference USA, as it jumped up to a Football Bowl Subdivision athletic program.
Look for more efforts to attract big-dollar private support for what is rapidly becoming, in this era of NIL payments to student athletes, the ever increasing costs of operating big-time college sport programs.
