Challenge Grants
Realizing the Prothro Center for Lifelong Learning
Can You Help Us Meet this Challenge?
Friends and alumni now have an exceptional opportunity to increase their support for Southwestern by participating in two challenge grants for the construction of the Charles & Elizabeth Prothro Center for Lifelong Learning. These challenges--$2 million from the Robert & Ruby Priddy Charitable Trust of Wichita Falls and $1 million from the J.E. and L.E. Mabee Foundation of Tulsa--will more than double new gifts and pledges to the project. For example, a gift of $30,000 raises an additional $40,000 in matching funds for a total of $70,000 toward the building. Receipt of the Priddy and Mabee challenge funds is contingent upon receiving gifts and pledges for the final $2.05 million needed for the $10.5 million facility by April 12, 2007.
The Prothro Center will be the last building added to the Roy H. Cullen Academic Mall. Its placement creates a bridge between the residential living centers for the students and the academic facilities on campus. The building also will be Southwestern's first major building to incorporate environmentally sustainable "green building" design guidelines.
Programmatic planning for the new facility is already well advanced, and design and construction planning will move forward during the coming year as fundraising efforts continue. Construction is scheduled to begin in Summer 2007 once the needed gifts and pledges have been received. This start date would allow for project completion by December 2008 and occupancy in Spring 2009.
To date, donors to this project include Perkins-Prothro Foundation with a landmark gift of $3.5 million that will name the building after two generous benefactors of the University, and The Grogan Lord Foundation with a $1 million grant. Other key supporters are Hoblitzelle Foundation, Albert and Margaret Alkek Foundation, Fondren Foundation, M.D. Anderson Foundation and JPMorgan Trust Company.
Student Services
Southwestern students will benefit from the consolidation of many key services in the Prothro Center. The Jerry Farrington Business Services Suite will house the Business Office, Registrar's Office and Financial Aid on the first floor, making it easy for students to register for classes, apply for financial aid, pay bills and conduct other University business. Other essential student support services located throughout the building include Career Services, Academic Services, and Counseling and Health Services. Bringing together many functions of student life now widely dispersed throughout campus will benefit both students and staff through increased visibility and access.
Offices for Faculty
Dedicated teacher-scholars are the hallmark of a Southwestern education. A goal of Thinking Ahead: The Southwestern Campaign is to add 25 new permanent full-time faculty positions. This initiative ensures a 10:1 student/faculty ratio, broadens curricular offerings and fosters the close scholarly relationships so integral to an exceptional liberal arts education. The Prothro Center will meet the need for new faculty office space in the heart of campus and provide additional spaces for academic life such as conference rooms and seminar spaces that support innovative teaching.
Prothro Center Naming Opportunities
Southwestern University will recognize donors to the Charles & Elizabeth Prothro Center for Lifelong Learning by naming designated spaces within the building. Gifts ranging from $5,000 to $1 million qualify for a naming opportunity. For more information and to download our Naming Opportunities brochures, please click here.
