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CUE 2004

ENGINEERING DEVELOPMENT
Message from Gary Anderson, Chair of the Resource Development Committee

Engineering Development Director Marc Thompson (left) joins Gary Anderson on the ITLL-DLC bridge.

It is my great honor to represent the CU-Boulder College of Engineering and Applied Science as chairman of its Resource Development Committee. This group of dedicated and talented volunteers strives to bring the vision of Dean Rob Davis and his staff to life by providing the required financial resources.

Our primary focus for this year has been to provide the funding needed to start a new program—the Earn Learn Apprenticeship Program. The reality today is that most college students work at least part time to help pay for school. Earn Learn is a hands-on program that allows students to earn extra money performing resume-worthy engineering work within the college. Typical examples of the work these students perform are assisting with courses, developing laboratory exercises, mentoring other students, and helping faculty on projects.

We have successfully launched the program although much remains to be done. We have raised over $86,000 in cash from individual alumni, established two endowments with a combined value of $150,000, and identified two estate bequest pledges with an estimated future value of $1 million. This strong start has allowed the college to fund the first group of 15 Earn Learn students who began working in the program in January of this year. Our efforts will allow the college to expand the program to include substantially more engineering students in the future. It is our desire to provide Earn Learn opportunities to qualified students who are motivated to work and in need of financial support to complete their education.

As we look ahead, it is clear to me that the need for private support for our college will continue to grow. The financial squeeze that the university system finds itself in as a result of a decrease in state support makes it more important than ever that we, as alums, keep the University of Colorado in our financial plans. The list of worthy projects is long and I am proud to be working with the other members of the RDC to help meet this increasing need.

I am fortunate to be able to visit the campus frequently. Each time I am there, I am reminded of why CU is special to me. Every fall brings a new wave of fresh faces, some of them a lot like you and me when we first stepped onto the campus. It is my hope that students in each new class will continue to find CU-Boulder and the College of Engineering and Applied Science a place where opportunity is created for them as it was for us.

I encourage each of you to consider your own role in the future of our college. You can contact Marc Thompson or any of the professional staff in the engineering development office at 303-492-7899 for specific information about how you might help to ensure the future excellence of the college we all love. You also can reach me via email at Gary_Anderson@coloradoalum.org.

Respectfully,

Gary R. Anderson (MechEngr '69)