TCU Board of Trustees holds fall meeting; Members agree to embark on energized push to raise millions in scholarship funding

Fort Worth, TX

11/17/2009

TCU Trustees noted last week that the University has gained much momentum and energy over the last five years as Vision in Action, the University’s strategic plan, has unfolded, resulting in the development of the best possible university experience for students. They also agreed to make scholarships the No. 1 priority of The Campaign for TCU. A special subcommittee of Trustees has been charged with overseeing efforts to raise $100 million in scholarships through The Campaign for TCU.

“Vision in Action is ensuring that students benefit from a world-class, values-centered university experience,” said TCU Chancellor Victor J. Boschini, Jr. “Our continued investment in facilities, faculty and academic programs is creating much energy, momentum and opportunities on this campus. But we recognize that we must go beyond just creating a momentary experience. Rather, we must equip students to become the next generational leaders able to solve complex global problems. And in order to do that, we must continue to invest strategically in our students, our facilities and our academic programs.”

The Trustees also voted to increase tuition by 6.2 percent to $30,000 for the 2010-2011 academic year. Financial aid also will increase by 6.2 percent. Trustees noted that currently $48.1 million in scholarships has been raised through The Campaign for TCU, and have set a final goal of $100 million. The University has launched a Website at www.scholarship.tcu.edu in an effort to assist in this fund raising effort. Such resources will help TCU continue to attract qualified students and provide a TCU education for those who desire to receive one. Trustees also noted that students -- whether recipients of scholarships and financial aid or not – do not bear the full cost of a TCU education. Tuition covers 80 percent of that cost, with philanthropic gifts and income from the endowment and other sources offsetting the remaining 20 percent. For the 2009-2010 academic year TCU anticipates that it will offer $62 million in institutionally funded financial aid to undergraduate students.

TCU students continue to enjoy unique, distinctive opportunities, providing a platform for their success. Those opportunities include:
•    A residential experience centered around the new Campus Commons that provides opportunities for student interaction with faculty, staff and other students as well as opportunities for intellectual exchange with leaders of industry such as T. Boone Pickens and Bob Schieffer.
•    A friendly and diverse environment for living, teaching and learning, with state-of-the-art classrooms, residence halls and recreational facilities.
•    An accomplished, mentoring faculty and staff who develop programs that foster discovery, creativity, leadership and a global perspective.
•    An overall experience that provides the strengths, resources and traditions of larger institutions — from more than 100 different majors to NCAA Division 1A competition on campus — all within a warm, personal environment that usually is found only at small colleges.

In other business, the Trustees dedicated the new John V. Roach Honors College, which will be located in the new Clarence and Kerry Scharbauer Hall that is set to open this January. The Chancellor also noted that student retention, now labeled “successful graduation,” continues to rise. He stated that research has shown that retention to the first semester of the third year is a critical milestone for our students, and more than 90 percent of those who make it to this point go on to graduate from TCU within six years. We credit new programs and processes put in place in 2004 for this positive increase.

The Chancellor also introduced two new Trustees, Bruce Hunt and Duer Wagner.

TCU’s official class numbers for the 2008-09 academic year are 7,471 undergraduates and 1,225 graduate students for a total of 8,696 students. 

The Board of Trustees will hold its next meeting April 7-9, 2010.