On Friday, Oct. 4, Goshen College announced the public phase of their “Connected Cause” campaign after raising $60 million of $68 million during the first three years, making it the largest campaign in GC history, according to a spokesperson for the college.
We have such good professors at Goshen College and I am looking forward to seeing what all they do with the enhanced space and resources.
— Hannah Sweitzer
The quiet phase of the campaign began in June of 2021 with the original goal set at $55 million. Once the campaign steering committee realized that the goal was attainable, the final number was increased. The total is made up of cash, pledges, estate gifts and grants, all of which are compiled to make up the total sum.
According to the Communications and Marketing press release, the campaign is targeting seven priorities: Campus facilities and renewal (19 million goal), state-of-the-art nursing & public health facility (13.4 million goal), scholarships & student student success (12 million goal), global and local community engagement (5 million goal), academic excellence (3 million goal), expanding athletics (3.1 million goal) and the Goshen College fund (12.5 million goal).
“I can imagine students saying ‘so, what does this mean for me?’” said Jodi Beyeler, vice president for institutional advancement. “But there is a fair amount of what we have been fundraising for that we’ve already actually been able to implement.”
A few of these implementations include the dining hall and nursing center renovation at Westlawn ($21 million of the $68 million total), remodeling of the Academic Success Center, new seating in the Umble Center, native landscaping projects and renovation of the J.N. Roth Marine Biology Station in Florida.
For GC, the Westlawn renovation project remains a high priority for the Connected Cause campaign, due to its public facing location, potential for interactivity with students and expandability within the nursing department.
“The reality is that nursing is our largest major,” Beyeler said. “So just in terms of its impact, that is huge … I don’t think we can underestimate what that transformation will have on our academic programs, our student experience, the ways that I think residential and commuter students will be able to interact, [and] our visitor experience.”
The necessity and immediacy of each need were deciding factors in how the funding was distributed, along with the interests of donors.
“You’re trying to align your needs with what your supporters and donors [want],” Beyeler said.
In addition to the Westlawn project, scholarships and student success has gained traction within the campaign which will “provide direct, equitable financial assistance to GC students for generations to come,” according to the Goshen College Connected Cause webpage.
Todd Yoder, former vice president of institutional advancement said, “Scholarships have always been a priority, and alumni and donors have responded very generously. There are more than 300 named scholarships at Goshen College, and that doesn’t happen by itself.”
Yoder expressed his excitement about the campaign. “It was my privilege and pleasure to serve the college in this way during that time, and it’s some of the most meaningful work I’ve ever done.”
Yoder helped progress the campaign until May of this year when he was let go from the college.
Considering the multiple expressed priorities, the campaign has sparked conversation throughout campus.
Tim Wilkening, a senior sports management major, questioned the distribution of the funds.
Athletes make up 42% of students on campus, “and I feel like, since that number is out there, we should get a little bit more money than just 3.1 million out of the 68,” said Wilkening. “We’re [also] very much behind the other teams in the Crossroads League.”
Britney Ortega, a junior nursing major, expressed more enthusiasm. “I feel pretty excited and glad we actually get new equipment and new material to work with,” she said. “ I feel like that would be an improvement for the nursing majors and [good] to apply skills in real life.”
Hannah Sweitzer, junior nursing major, is also excited for the focus on nursing. “We have such good professors at Goshen College and I am looking forward to seeing what all they do with the enhanced space and resources,” Sweitzer said.
Luke Beck Kreider, professor of religion and sustainability said, “It’s exciting to know that they’ve been able to raise all this amount of money,” he said. “During this phase of our history, it seems especially vital to be able to know that we’re on firm financial ground.”
When asked what students should take away from the campaign’s launch, President Rebecca Stolzfus emphasized, “The alumni and community partners of GC are generous because they deeply care about you, our students, and your experience.”
