CAMPAIGN
for ACADIA
CAMPAIGN
for ACADIA CAMPAIGN goal
$75
Million
CAMPAIGN
for ACADIA We know that Acadia University prepares our students for a complex world. Because of you, we see the enduring impact of an Acadia education in all facets of life. Our graduates make a difference close to home and around the world. Yet changing times bring many challenges. To sustain the Acadia of today and secure the Acadia of the future we are launching Campaign for Acadia. With a $75-million goal, it is the most ambitious campaign in our history. The campaign supports four key priorities that reflect Acadia’s mission.
Transform:
Inspire:
Discover:
Build:
extraordinary student experiences
exceptional teaching and engagement
innovative research and inquiry
proud heritage and promising horizons
Foster access and success so that all deserving students can experience a transformative education.
Attract and retain outstanding faculty who are committed to exceptional teaching across all programs.
Promote discovery and innovation through support for our student and faculty researchers.
Enhance our physical and financial infrastructure to benefit students, faculty, and the community.
transform goal
inspire goal
discover goal
build goal
Million
Million
Million
$30
Million
$12.5
$12.5
$20
every gift matters Chair’s Message I am proud to lead our Campaign for Acadia and hope you will join us in achieving our ambitious $75-million goal. This bold initiative will have a transformative impact on our students and on Acadia – that matters to me as a parent, as an alumna, and as a citizen of Canada and the world. I am committed to the profound personal growth that happens at Acadia. It is perhaps more rare and relevant today than ever before, and I believe it is worthy of our support. To succeed, the Campaign for Acadia calls for our entire community to invest generously in our students, faculty, academic programs, facilities, campus life, and more. Realizing our campaign goals will burnish Acadia’s reputation as a premier liberal arts university accessible to all deserving students. Every gift matters to our Campaign for Acadia. Each one of us can make a difference by participating. Your gift will sustain the Acadia of today and build the Acadia of the future. Together, we can support the aspirations of our students and faculty by providing them with the resources they need to continue to grow.
Nancy McCain (’82) Chair, Campaign for Acadia
CAMPAIGN
for ACADIA Cabinet members Nancy McCain (’82), Cabinet Chair, Toronto | Clive Anderson (’89), Singapore | Paul Bailey (’75), Toronto Libby Burnham (’60), Toronto | Don Clow (’83), Halifax | Henry Demone (’76), Lunenburg Shih Fang (Dino) Ng (’01), Kuala Lumpur | Ruth Hennigar (’81), San Jose, CA | Karen Hutt (’89), Halifax Allan MacDonald (’92), Toronto | Peter MacKay (’87), Toronto/New Glasgow | Ian MacNeily (’81), Toronto Tracey McGillivray (’87/’15), Ottawa/Toronto | Kevin Mullen (’86), Calgary | Larry Mussenden (’86), Bermuda Kerel Pinder (’06), Freeport, Bahamas | David Roy (’08), Toronto | Derek Smith (’05), London, UK Cynthia Trudell (’74), Armonk, New York | Stephen Wetmore (’75), Toronto | Lana Wood (’82), Calgary/Vancouver Francis Yip (’90), Hong Kong | Ex Officio members: Bruce Galloway (’68), Chancellor John Rogers (’79), Chair, Board of Governors | Dr. Peter Ricketts, President and Vice-Chancellor Ron Smith (’71), Chair, Advancement Committee | Ryan Conrod (’06), President, Acadia Alumni Association George Philp (’19), President, Acadia Students’ Union | Dr. Rod Morrison, Vice-President, Advancement Nancy Handrigan (’92), Executive Director, Philanthropy, and Campaign Director
Celebrating our past The story of Acadia University’s founding is inspirational and relevant. Our roots date back to 1838 when our leaders defied convention by committing the University to a policy of inclusiveness – students were to be accepted regardless of religious denomination, race, or gender.
Unconventional but effective. When facilities were needed, and the University had no funds, Professor Isaac Chipman travelled throughout the Maritimes to request donations of money, building materials, and hard work. The community volunteered time and donated building materials to construct the first version of University Hall, which opened in 1843. That same year, Acadia granted its first Bachelor of Arts degrees, making it one of the oldest post-secondary institutions in Canada. Revolutionary and relevant. There was a time when education was for the select few. Acadia’s leaders changed that by introducing practical courses in agricultural chemistry and navigation to encourage farmers and fishers to attend. Today, we offer more than 200 degree combinations in the faculties of Arts, Pure and Applied Science, Professional Studies, and Theology. Hands-on learning and co-operative education options are part of the curriculum. Our students are immersed in their education and collaborate with their professors and the community.
Innovative and inclusive. Acadia was among the first in the British Empire to open its doors to women and people of African descent. Today, our campus community includes students from more than 70 countries, and the Mi’kmaw flag flies permanently from the rooftop of University Hall. We are proud to provide nearly $5 million in scholarships and financial aid each year to help ensure that deserving students can experience an Acadia education no matter their circumstances. Our Campaign for Acadia will sustain the Acadia of today and build the Acadia of the future.
charting the future President’s Message In 1838, our founders committed Acadia University to the principles of inclusiveness, merit, and achievement. They broke down existing barriers to higher education and started us on an incredible journey that continues today. Acadia’s mission is to provide a personalized and rigorous liberal education; promote a robust and respectful scholarly community; and inspire a diversity of students to become critical thinkers, lifelong learners, engaged citizens, and responsible global leaders. We have served that mission with pride and fidelity, and, as we approach the third century of our life as an institution, we renew our commitment to the vision of our founders and the transformative experience we offer to our students. Our Campaign for Acadia will enable us to protect the values that have defined us for the past 180 years and to meet the challenges of the years ahead. This $75-million fundraising endeavour – the largest in our history – will strengthen the University and serve our students and faculty for years to come. We cannot achieve success without you. On behalf of our campus community, I thank you for joining us as we Campaign for Acadia.
Dr. Peter J. Ricketts President and Vice-Chancellor
CAMPAIGN
for ACADIA
Tran
transform goal
$30
Million NOOR AHMED (’21) computer science WUSC SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENT
Born in Somalia, Noor Ahmed attended high school in a refugee camp in Kenya. Through hard work, he won a WUSC scholarship to Acadia – a university he considered “big” when he arrived. Noor studies computer science with the goal of bringing positive change to his war-torn country, and he’s grateful to his benefactors. “To help someone from a refugee camp, to give them the chance to come to one of the best universities in Canada, I cannot thank them enough.”
“My hope for the future is to join the artificial intelligence sector and introduce new ideas to the world.”
ansform:
extraordinary student experiences
Stepping onto Acadia’s campus means entering a world of possibility. From residence life to extracurricular activities, classroom discussions to co-op placements, our students experience a personalized education in a diverse and caring community. Each year, Acadia attracts nearly 3,600 students from across Canada and from more than 70 countries. They come to learn from one another and from their professors; to be both encouraged and challenged; and to prepare themselves to be tomorrow’s leaders. Even before they arrive, students are welcomed to the Acadia family, which has a reputation for inclusiveness and lifelong connection. Acadia provides an experience that helps students discover who they can become – an interdisciplinary approach to learning that fosters scholarly discussion, discovery, and community engagement. Our students know that by choosing Acadia, they will learn in a way that is increasingly rare among post-secondary institutions. They graduate with an education grounded in both tradition and innovation, with an ability to work well with others, think critically, and serve their communities.
Campaign for Acadia seeks to increase support for student success and to eliminate barriers to post-secondary education. To ensure the brightest minds can join our Acadia family, we are striving to: • Strengthen access through an enhanced portfolio of scholarships and bursaries. • Expand co-op programs and other experiential opportunities. • Promote student mental health and well-being. • Provide enhanced support and services geared to student success. • Cultivate and expand volunteer opportunities. • Lead the process of indigeneity on campus. • Create a competitive edge with support for Athletic Excellence Awards. For more than 35 years, Acadia students have given back to the community by volunteering countless hours to help children, youth, and adults with disabilities. The Sensory Motor Instructional Leadership Experience program focuses on developing abilities while having fun and making friends. In 2017, there were 275 community participants and 465 studentvolunteers in S.M.I.L.E.
CAMPAIGN
for ACADIA
Ins
inspire goal
$12.5 Million
RANDY LYNN NEWMAN PSYCHOLOGY PROFESSOR, COGNITIVE NEUROSCIENTIST
There’s a reason Dr. Randy Lynn Newman has received numerous teaching awards, including the Acadia Alumni Faculty Award for Excellence in Teaching. “I love being in the classroom and passing along my enthusiasm and knowledge for psychology and neuroscience,” she says. “What fills my cup is seeing my students succeed in their own lives and knowing I got to play a part in that. That’s why I’ll stay up until 2:00 in the morning marking 130 exams.”
“I’m humbled by the knowledge our students bring, the questions that they ask, how hard they work, and what they achieve and accomplish.”
spire: Faculty who are passionate about teaching are the foundation of an Acadia education. From business to biology, from the performing arts to environmental sustainability, our professors are leaders who prepare our students for life. With more than 200 degree combinations across four faculties, Acadia immerses students in an education that is purposely collaborative and transdisciplinary. Here, academic standards are rigorous, and our approach is personalized and geared to success. Small classes, an idyllic setting, and a tight-knit scholarly community foster inspiration in the classroom and beyond. We know that exceptional teaching fundamentally changes the learner, altering the way students come to understand themselves and others and forever enhancing their ability to serve society. To sustain this unique approach to post-secondary education, Acadia must retain and attract outstanding faculty committed to delivering the best undergraduate experience in Canada.
Campaign for Acadia seeks to secure major new investments in endowed faculty positions and in the resources needed for faculty to succeed as teachers, guides, and mentors. To attract and retain exceptional professors, we are focused on the following goals: • Create new endowed professorships and chairs. • Invest in pedagogical technology, training, and supports. • Establish new professional development opportunities for faculty. • Expand opportunities across disciplines for scholars-, executives-, and artists-in-residence. • Create supports to attract post-doctoral scholars. • Enhance opportunities for visiting scholars. • Promote and facilitate lifelong learning.
The outlets for community involvement are plentiful at Acadia and include a range of activities from extracurricular sports to debate club and from activism to theatre production. With more than 70 clubs on campus, opportunities abound.
CAMPAIGN
for ACADIA
Disc
discover goal
$12.5 Million
JONATHON FOWLES KINESIOLOGY PROFESSOR DIRECTOR, CENTRE OF LIFESTYLE STUDIES
Dr. Jonathon Fowles works with students and partners to deliver health improvements across Canada, especially with the Canadian Diabetes Association. Locally, his 15 senior Exercise Training Practicum students have each done over 200 hours of work across 15 community programs. “Acadia’s kinesiology program is second to none in Canada, in regard to the range of experiences our students have access to,” he says. “They learn that it’s about more than just a textbook. It’s about a person.”
JULIA KOPPERNAES (’19) KINESIOLOGY
With the long-term goal of serving with the Canadian military as a medical officer, Julia Koppernaes has her eye on medical school. This Dean’s List scholar is involved in community outreach to help older adults become more physically active.
cover:
innovative research and inquiry
Through close collaboration, Acadia student and faculty researchers drive discoveries that impact lives and improve communities. By seeking to understand and solve real-world problems, they will create a brighter future. At Acadia, the line between teaching and research is blurred both by necessity and by design. Our students learn by doing and by seeking answers to questions that matter to society, working across disciplines with their peers and their professors. Research is core to our mission of preparing our students for a complex world. Acadia has attracted top-tier researchers in diverse fields, and many are leaders of international stature. They work with colleagues across campus and at institutions and organizations around the globe, sharing their expertise in our classrooms, laboratories, and communities. Our students are considered research colleagues, and they graduate well-equipped to make a difference in their respective fields and society.
Encouraging entrepreneurship in students is a relatively new hallmark of the Fred C. Manning School of Business. Inaugural holder of the Rath Professorship in Entrepreneurship, Ryan MacNeil is focused on supporting innovative research and community engagement with his students. Service-learning projects in partnership with local businesses, creation of pop-up ventures, social impact product and service development, and a unique Entrepreneurs-in-Residence program at Acadia are just some of the many reasons Acadia is on the Huffington Post’s list of Top 10 Universities in Canada for Future Entrepreneurs.
Campaign for Acadia will build our research capacity by forging stronger collaboration across disciplines and encouraging new approaches to address society’s problems. Our goals are to: • Expand financial support for graduate research programs. • Enhance summer research awards. • Create a digital scholarship centre. • Establish an agriculture and beverage research institute. • Invest in flexible research funding and awards. • Bolster the K.C. Irving Environmental Trust in support of scholarly and research excellence.
CAMPAIGN
for ACADIA
bui
build goal
$20
Million AMITABH JHA CHEMISTRY PROFESSOR, CANCER RESEARCHER
When Dr. Amitabh Jha teaches his students how to design drugs to battle breast cancer, their newly renovated chemistry labs help them contribute to research and commercialization. “I’m excited to work in our new labs,” he says. “This improved environment will add productivity.” Undergraduate students are his workforce. “We train them and make them ready for graduate school,” he says. “This not only prepares them for their future, it makes our efforts worthwhile when we are able to publish good-quality research.”
“I came with a mindset that bigger is actually better, which got completely shattered when I came to Acadia and started teaching here. We are adding to the knowledge that can be used by others to potentially save lives.”
ild:
proud heritage and promising horizons
Acadia is considered one of Canada’s most beautiful university campuses. Our physical and financial infrastructure represents our heritage and our future. Acadia’s campus sits on 250 acres in the quintessential university town of Wolfville. Steps away are vineyards, orchards, and the world’s highest tides, all of which serve as living laboratories for our student and faculty researchers. Established in 1838, Acadia is one of the oldest and most respected liberal arts universities in the country. Campus architecture reflects 180 years of progress and ranges from Seminary House, the oldest structure in Canada used for women’s post-secondary education, to the celebrated K.C. Irving Environmental Science Centre and Harriet Irving Botanical Gardens. Acadia’s first College Hall was constructed with more volunteer time than money thanks to the industriousness of our founders. Today, campus renewal and beautification are made possible through generous private and public support.
Sustaining the natural world begins with understanding it. Talented student and faculty researchers use advanced equipment at the K.C. Irving Environmental Science Centre to discover the workings of the natural world and investigate ways in which it can be preserved. In an extraordinary act of generosity, Arthur, James and John Irving and their families donated the K.C. Irving Environmental Science Centre and Harriet Irving Botanical Gardens to Acadia in 2002.
Campaign for Acadia has prioritized projects that will develop the physical and financial infrastructure needed to ensure a transformative student experience. Our goals include: • Adapt our buildings to improve accessibility. • Protect library archives and modernize study spaces. • Renew and enhance key campus buildings and facilities. • Refurbish and expand Athletics Complex facilities and offerings. • Reimagine and upgrade the Student Union Building. • Boost the value of Acadia’s endowment.
Derek Charke Music Professor, Composition and Theory Dr. Derek Charke is a Juno and ECMA awardwinning composer and flutist whose works often explore environmental issues. He has been commissioned by world-renowned artists including the Kronos Quartet, Toronto Symphony, Winnipeg Symphony, and Symphony Nova Scotia. Emily Kennedy (’14) Environmental and Sustainability Studies Alumna Emily Kennedy wants to change the world, and she’s already begun. Her Youth in Agriculture Initiative in Uganda garnered her the first Nudge Global Impact Award (2017). This Acadia teacher and activist aspires to end global food insecurity.
“Being here is life changing. When you support Acadia, you’re supporting students like me. We’re growing every day, and we’re hopefully going to make the world a better place.” Allie Berry (’18) Allie Berry (’18) Community Development Alumna When not on the court supporting her championship basketball team, Allie Berry used her community development training to encourage at-risk youth to participate in a recreation program she created, called Rec Buddies.
Derek
Emily
Allie
Elvis
Fenggang (Elvis) Zhou (’18) Environmental Science Student Elvis Zhou’s path in life all came down to one moment in a microbiology lab at Acadia. An Environmental Science student from China, he overcame shyness to become a volunteer. Now, his sights are set on a career in health care. Maurice Tugwell Economics Professor (Retired) When former students mention Dr. Maurice Tugwell, the word “inspiring” often arises. In his 35-year career, he taught economics to thousands of them, encouraging them to make a difference in their university community and beyond.
“Small communities of learning will be enhanced with technological developments, but you cannot replace face-toface, one-on-one, small-group opportunities to engage in ideas. And that’s what a place like Acadia does really well.” Maurice Tugwell
Michelle Wood Women’s Volleyball Head Coach Michelle Wood teaches her student-athletes leadership skills on and off the court. As a leader herself, she has won a WomenActive-NS Leadership Award and been named Coach of the Year and Volleyball Nova Scotia Volunteer of the Year. Jared Craig (’19) Business Administration Student Extremely shy when he arrived at Acadia, Jared Craig has grown into a confident presenter and networker. His latest milestone on the road to a career in finance? Becoming the Acadia Students’ Union’s Vice President, Finance and Operations for 2018/19.
Maurice
Michelle
Jared
BECAUSE OF YOU Campaign for Acadia is a call to action and an opportunity for our alumni and friends to make an impact. Your campaign gift will provide a transformative educational experience for our students. You will help foster innovative research and discovery while improving infrastructure and facilities. You will inspire our students and faculty through your generosity. Your efforts will help strengthen communities on campus and across the globe. Because of you, we can rise to the challenge before us.
Join Us. Campaign for Acadia. There are many ways to give, and every gift matters: •
a monthly or annual donation,
•
a planned gift in your will or insurance plan,
•
a contribution of stocks or other securities,
•
a gift in honour or memory of a special occasion or person,
•
a matching gift through your employer.
Contact us: (902) 585-1459 or campaign@acadiau.ca
campaign.acadiau.ca
CAMPAIGN
for ACADIA CAMPAIGN goal
$75
Million
The mission of Acadia University is to provide a personalized and rigorous liberal education; promote a robust and respectful scholarly community; and inspire a diversity of students to become critical thinkers, lifelong learners, engaged citizens, and responsible global leaders.
Office of Advancement 15 University Avenue Wolfville, NS B4P 2R6 Canada
Telephone: (902) 585-1459 Toll-Free: 1-866-222-3428 Web: campaign.acadiau.ca Email: campaign@acadiau.ca
