STEADY MOVE TO PRIVATE UNIVERSITIES FUNDING

posted by Michael Chihak

Friday's Arizona Week will explore fund-raising at the state's three public universities, where public funding has declined but the pressure remains to expand enrollment and programs.

Among issues to be explored:

-- What will Robert Shelton's departure as president of the University of Arizona mean for fund-raising at the Tucson school? Will donors draw back, waiting to see who the new leader will be?

-- Can Arizona State University, with total foundation assets of $700 million -- lower than the UA's but with enrollment half again as large -- catch up and bring in more money from its ever-expanding alumni base?

-- Will NAU, the smallest of the three schools in both enrollment and foundation assets, break the $100 million mark anytime soon? It's at $89 million in total assets now.