AZ'S PUBLIC UNIVERSITIES GO PRIVATE

posted by Michael Chihak

Total assets for the three foundations that support the state's three universities have seen increases in the last year, as the economy moves farther from the recession.

At the same time, they haven't come back to the contributions levels they were seeing before the recession hit.

At Northern Arizona University, foundation President Mason Gerety said fund-raising totaled $10 million in the last year and should hit $16 million in the coming year.

Similar increases, but on a bigger scale, were seen by both the Arizona State University Foundation and the University of Arizona Foundation.

All are working to shore up support for the universities as state funding continues to decline.

To assess the full picture, we will talk with Gerety and the heads of the ASU and UA foundations for Friday's Arizona Week.