Oct. 7,
2004

The largest single donation in school history:

Norwich receives $13 million in alumni bequests

By Mark Zinderman
Norwich Guidon Staff Writer

Touting the largest single donation in its 186-year history, Norwich University recently received donations totaling $13 million, according to the Vice President of Institutional Advancement.

A Scrimmage for Homecoming Members of the Norwich rugby team play a game as part of the homecoming weekend events. See additional photos and story of Alumni Weekend (Plourde photo)

The single largest donation in Norwich history came about eight months ago from the estate of a trustee, Henry Prescott Chaplin, and totals $7.4 million in unrestricted funds.

The second came around the same time from the estate of Frank Chase, Class of 1928, and his wife, Zada. It is a financial gift of $5.6 million set aside for academic purposes.

�Most people, when they give a gift of this size, want to give it for a purpose, but to his benefit, [Chaplin] left it up to the trustees, now, to make the decision, because they ... know best what Norwich needs,� said Dave Whaley, vice president of institutional advancement.

According to Whaley, �The average donation has fallen, and the number of donors has remained steady.� The last donation that came close to the Chaplin donation was the David B. Hollis gift of $7.25 million in 1996.

The Chaplin gift came to the university because of the recent passing of Chaplin�s son. NU President Richard Schneider explained that no one expected the son to pass so soon, and that the plans for this money would be brought out sometime in October after the trustees have decided where it will be best used.

The plans will coordinate with the Norwich 2019 campaign. Part of this plan includes growing the Corps of Cadets to 1,250 cadets, which could possibly happen by the time this year�s rooks graduate, Schneider said.

�Eventually, I want to see the 4th battalion stood up,� Schneider said.

The plan also calls for a student body of 2,000, which means a civilian population of 750.

It is unclear weather the Chaplin money will be used directly for housing.

But Schneider did explain that there will be a ground-breaking this spring for a Norwich museum, which will likely be significantly more impressive than the current museum under White Chapel. Eventually, the old museum�s area will be turned into storage for the regimental band, and the band's current storage facilities will be turned into what Schneider called a �student campus center.�

Both of these projects will have to be phased into the campus in such a way as not to disrupt the lifestyle of the students and faculty.

The idea behind these projects is to not only improve campus life, but to go head-to-head with other well-known schools, Schneider said.

The Chase gift, on the other hand, is �essentially for the enhancement and enrichment of our academic programs; it's not meant to just be spent on paperclips and photocopying,� said NU Asst. Provost Joe Byrne. �We�re going to try to do more than we�ve done before.�

The principle of the Chase donation will go to the university�s endowment, and yearly earnings of about five percent, or $300,000, is what the university will use for what Chase designated.

Whaley said the Chase money will not go toward scholarships for direct tuition, because it is not designated for that purpose. Whaley said the reason is because there already are programs and campaigns set aside for that purpose.

Byrne said the provost�s office has several initiatives planned, one being promotion and travel for studies abroad. The idea is to make available funds that will help students study abroad.

A process for distributing these funds has not been decided yet, Byrne said.

Jenifer Hasenfus, the International Student Advisor, said a director of studies abroad and an operating budget for set personnel will probably be needed. �Experience abroad is of tremendous help upon graduation in whatever pursuit you choose,� Hasenfus said.

This money could come from the Chase gift, Byrne said.

International studies is one of Schneider�s �five I�s,�-- improve learning, inspire students, informaion technology for all, internationalize the campus, and invest stragecially -- which he wants the school�s students to experience and gain from Norwich.

A strategic plan for the majority of the Chase and Chaplin money has not been decided at this time, but should be on its way from the trustees sometime this fall.

�My job is to get the resources to the provost,� Schneider said, adding that, �the provost�s job is to figure out with the faculty how best to spend it to excite and exhilarate and encourage the academic enterprise at the university.�

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