Wednesday, January 28, 1998
Faculty urged to aid in fundraising
FACULTY Carnesale asks for help soliciting from potential
donors
Brian Fishman
Daily Bruin Contributor
Money was the hot topic at Tuesday’s meeting of the Legislative
Assembly of the Academic Senate.
Chancellor Carnesale appealed to the Assembly, urging them to
take part in "Campaign UCLA," an on-going fundraising program and
the Assembly honored UCLA professors who in the past year have
earned patents for their research at UCLA, thus bringing the school
licensing fees.
After, praising faculty for their efforts in courting
fundraising donors, Carnesale assured the faculty that they were a
vital part of the fundraising process.
"This is not something the Chancellor or the Deans can do by
themselves," Carnesale said to the Assembly.
He emphasized that the benefits of fundraising would be felt by
the faculty.
"They are your teaching, research, and development issues that
the development staff tries to sell to donors," Vic e Chancellor
Ted Mitchell said.
Carnesale insisted that UCLA needs donor money, citing
statistics that the state of California provides UCLA only 20
percent of their operating budget.
Mitchell, speaking more specifically said, "It is important to
have donors talking to faculty so they can pick up the excitement
that is at the heart of every faculty members’ research. "
The UCLA faculty is one of the "world’s greatest," and should be
involved in the solicitation process, Mitchell said.
In the first six months of this school year, fundraising totals
have matched those of last year, which was the largest fundraising
year in UCLA history.
"Campaign UCLA" has raised 550 million since its inception and
is on its way to a goal of 1.2 billion by the 2001 school year.
"It’s inconceivable to think about even having a campaign unless
it’s about faculty and students," he continued.
Faculty already has been actively involved in courting potential
donors, explained Mitchell, but he continued to say that future
participation was vital to the success of "Campaign UCLA."
The Legislative Assembly honored UCLA professors who have earned
patents for the University in the past year. According to Vice
Chancellor Kumar Patel, in the past year UCLA has earned 27
patents, 80 percent more than four years ago.
"As we increase the size of patents at UCLA we will become more
important to industry," Patel explained.
Industry’s increased awareness of UCLA patents leads to
licensing agreements which provide UCLA with income. In the past
year UCLA has engaged in 17 licensing agreements.
Patel envisions grand things for research at UCLA.
"UCLA must become the intellectual engine of economic growth in
the region," he claimed.
Patel’s comments foreshadowed the announcement that a Santa
Monica company is developing from technologies derived at UCLA. He
went on to say that this sort of connection between UCLA is good
for the University and its students after they graduate.
Of the 27 new patents, 20 are from the Medical School, six from
the school of Engineering, and one from the School of Letters and
Sciences.
JAMIE SCANL0N-JACOBS/Daily Bruin
Vickie Mays, Vice Chair of the Academic Senate, and Chand
Viswanathan, Academic Senate Chair, listen to Chancellor Carnesale
speak during the meeting.