Superintendent's Priorities
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
A PUBLICATION OF WPAOG FALL 2014 SHAPING THE FUTURE OF WEST POINT AND BEYOND DEVELOPMENT OFFICE WPAOG Announces SUPERINTENDENT’S PRIORITIES in the Final Stretch of the For Us All Campaign With a little more than a year to go in fundraising goal of $350 million. “We are thrilled to have reached Ensuring a strong financial future for West Point and the For Us All Campaign, the West Point our fundraising goal ahead of the campaign’s completion,” WPAOG is a primary goal of the campaign, but this says Sorenson. “This success is a testament to the strength of campaign is also meant to rally support from the entire Long Association of Graduates (WPAOG) the Long Gray Line, and we are sincerely grateful for everyone’s Gray Line and increase the graduate participation rate. is focusing on the Superintendent’s top support and participation. We look forward to continuing Participation rates are important because they are one of the campaign priorities: this campaign through December 31, 2015, as intended, so measures used in college rankings to reflect the health and that we can exceed this goal, increase graduate participation, strength of the institution, as well as the degree to which 1. Visitors Center and deepen the campaign’s impact on the Academy.” graduates are engaged. “We know that graduates give back to 2. Lacrosse Center “It’s important that we don’t rest on our laurels,” says West Point in so many different ways,” says Sorenson, “and “Our commitment to 3. Arvin Annex Campaign Co-Chair Fred Malek ’59. this campaign provides an opportunity to tap into that see this campaign through 2015 and to support the commitment and enthusiasm and set a new standard in 4. Academy Scholars Program Academy’s Margin of Excellence remains as strong as ever, fundraising and participation at West Point.” 5. Cadet Semester Abroad and especially since there are still underfunded needs to “West Point has never attempted a campaign of this 6. Athletic Team Endowments address, including those currently listed as priorities by the magnitude before,” says WPAOG President and CEO Robert 7. Cadet Activities Superintendent.” McClure ’76. “We are excited to drive toward its 2015 TheFor Us All Campaign is designed to sustain and advance completion and include all graduates, families, and friends in 8. Diversity and Inclusion Initiatives the Margin of Excellence at the United States Military Academy this historic endeavor.” 9. Academic Centers: Center for the and to strengthen the Long Gray Line. Gifts of any size to any The Bicentennial Campaign, which occurred between Study of Civil-Military Operations fund made from January 1, 2009 until December 31, 2015 are 1997 and 2002, is West Point’s only other fundraising and Cyber Research Center included in the campaign. To date, the campaign has received campaign. It raised $218 million and 48 percent of graduates gifts ranging from multimillion cash and planned gifts to participated in the campaign. The For Us All Campaign “Every gift to every fund counts in this campaign,” says monthly installments of $20 from graduating cadets in has already set new records by exceeding its goal of $350 WPAOG Vice President of Development Kristin Sorenson, support of their academic department or class gift fund. million with the help of 42,265 donors, 65 percent of whom “but we encourage graduates and donors to learn more about “The needs included in this campaign are varied,” says are graduates. these specific campaign needs when deciding where to direct Campaign Co-Chair Jodie Glore ’69. “But that is representative “On behalf of the Campaign Cabinet, we thank all of their gift, as General Caslen has determined them to be of the diverse opportunities offered to cadets throughout their our donors for helping us achieve such great success to date,” strategic priorities for the Academy.” 47-month experience. This campaign is meant to elevate says Malek and Glore. “We look forward to sharing many The focus on these priorities comes at a critical time within cadets’ West Point experience to allow them to develop to more records and highlights over the next 18 months of the For Us All Campaign, which recently reached its their greatest potential.” the For Us All Campaign.” Building Team WhenAmerica’s it comes to issues of diversity and inclusion, Lieutenant General Robert Caslen ’75, West Point’s Superintendent, is concerned that the United States Military Academy is at risk of losing the trust and confidence of the American people. “There is a growing divide between the military demographic themselves as neither part of a majority or a minority, and the American people,” Caslen says. Statistically speaking, but rather as members of the same team. To that end, he non-Caucasians make up approximately 37 percent of the has appointed the Academy’s first Chief Diversity Officer, nation’s population, but they comprise less than a quarter of Dr. Don Outing, former USMA Professor of Mathematics the Corps of Cadets at West Point. In addition, women make and Director of the Center for Diversity and Leadership in up more than half of the U.S. population, but USCC is less Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM). than 20 percent female. “The U.S. Army and the Academy As part of For Us All: The Campaign for West Point, the West must reflect the diversity of the nation we serve,” says Caslen. Point Association of Graduates is committed to supporting “West Point already has geographical representation through this team through Margin of Excellence programs. A top our admissions process; now it is imperative that it leverages priority is to build the Diversity & Inclusion Endowment, all aspects of our nation’s diversity to create and sustain an which supports funding for minority recruiting and retention candidates through its various programs. One example is the inclusive organization that attracts the best the United States and programs and activities such as REAL (Respect, Ethics and Minority Visitation Program, which funds highly qualified has to offer.” Inclusion is the key. Not only does Caslen want Leadership), Cadet Diversity Clubs, domestic internships minority candidates and an accompanying parent to travel to to increase West Point’s numbers when it comes to diversity, such as the Congressional Black Caucus, and the Civil Rights West Point and see cadet life with their own eyes. he wants to create an environment in which groups see Staff Ride. West Point Admissions also aims to attract diverse [ CONTINUED ON PAGE 7 ] FALL 2014 WESTPOINTFORUSALL.ORG 2 For Us All Campaign Setting New Standards With little more than a year to go before the end of the For Us All Campaign, we thank you for helping to secure more than $358 million for the Academy and the Long Gray Line. Your Campaign Highlights participation in this campaign has helped the West Point To date, the For Us All Campaign has raised $329.9 million for the Academy and $28.8 million Association of Graduates set a new standard in fundraising for WPAOG. Other campaign highlights include: and will allow West Point to ensure an exceptional 47-month • 12,500 first time donors experience for its cadets, now and in the future. • 6,770 parent donors While we have much to be proud of within this campaign, • $69.5 million raised for annual funds (Superintendent’s Annual Fund, Long Gray Line, we still have a long way to go. As you’ll see from several of and Army A Club) the articles included in this newsletter, many campaign • $34 million raised for class gift campaigns needs remain under-funded and require greater levels of • 84 new endowments established support in order to fulfill their missions. In addition, General Caslen has announced his top campaign priorities, each of which impacts a distinct aspect of the cadet experience and strengthens the overall Margin of Excellence. We urge For the Cadets everyone to look at these needs more closely to determine how they can best help the Academy accomplish its goals. We’d also like to take this opportunity to recognize former Cadet Scholarships Graduate Scholarship Program Campaign Cabinet member Robert McDonald ’75, who Academy Scholars Program History of Warfare Textbook (funded) • Cadet Research Professional Military Ethic was recently appointed as U.S. Secretary of Veterans Affairs. • Cultural Immersion AIADs Education Leadership (reserved) Bob made many significant contributions through his volunteer • Domestic Internships AIADs Technology Insertion work as well as personal philanthropy to the For Us All Campaign Admissions Thayer Honors Program over the last six years, and while we will miss his leadership • Cadet Public Relations Council Academy Centers and service to the campaign, we look forward to the many • Minority Visitation Program • Cadet Advanced Science & Technology contributions he will make to the military and nation in this • Summer Leaders Experience Learning Environment (CASTLE) new position. Cadet Semester Abroad Program • Center for Physical Development Excellence Again, thank you for your participation in and support of Staff Rides (Site visits to historical battlefields) • Center for the Study of the For Us All Campaign. We look forward to marking the Endowments Civil-Military Operations final year of this campaign with an even greater level of energy Academic Enrichment Program DMI Digital Textbook & Toolbox and commitment than with which we began. You are critical (13 departmental endowments) to this effort, and we are sincerely grateful for all that you have Athletic Teams (22) Labs and Studios • done and all that you continue to do for West Point. Cadet Activities Unrestricted Astronomy Observatory • Cadet Clubs – Non Sports Cadet Fine Arts Forum Studio (funded) • Cadet Competitive Club Sports Cadet Robotics Program • Cadet Glee Club Cessna Flight Lab • Cadet Sport Parachute Team Computer-Aided Design Lab • Cultural Arts Concrete Technology Lab • Cadet Conferences and Symposiums Energy Conversion Lab • Chair for Character Development (funded) Football Training Simulator (funded) • Dean’s Teams (academic competitions) Historical Weapons Shoot MR.