Friday, July 30, 1999
Ashland to give $2.5M to Kentucky universities
NKU will endow science program
BY PATRICK CROWLEY
The Cincinnati Enquirer
HIGHLAND HEIGHTS — Northern Kentucky University will spend $500,000 to create an endowment for science and math programs and professors with an Ashland Inc. donation.
Ashland, which moved its headquarters from Eastern Kentucky to Covington this year, announced Thursday that it will donate more than $2.5 million to Kentucky's eight public universities and the Kentucky Community College and Technical College System.
The donation will be matched by the state, meaning NKU will receive $250,000 from Ashland and $250,000 in public money.
“NKU's partnership with Ashland is a perfect example of how dollars invested in ... (education) are capable of attracting funds from the private sector,” said NKU President Dr. James Votruba.
“Ashland is to be highly commended for its vision and commitment to excellence as represented by this endowment gift to the university,” he said.
NKU will use the money to pay visiting scholars and science educators to work in the university's new Center for Integrative Science and Mathematics (CINSAM).
The center will be located in the $38 million science center under construction on NKU's Highland Heights campus.
Rogers Redding, NKU's interim executive vice president and provost, described CINSAM as an interdisciplinary center that strengthens the university's partnerships with students in kindergarten through 12th grade.
CINSAM also “emphasizes connections with industry, features active hands-on learning and builds on collaborations involving faculty members from education, the natural sciences, mathematics and computer science,” Mr. Redding said.
“This endowed professorship greatly enhances NKU's ability to change the way science and mathematics are taught, at the college level as well as in elementary and secondary school,” he said.
It will also enable NKU to attract nationally recognized scholars in integrative science for extended periods, Mr. Redding said.
“Today's gift, in addition to directly benefitting the universities, is intended to improve the profile of these excellent postsecondary institutions,” said Ashland Inc. Chief Executive Officer Paul Chellgren during a news conference at the state Capitol in Frankfort that was attended by the president of each university.
Under a bill enacted during the 1997 special session of the General Assembly, the state has agreed to match private donations up to $110 million through the end of this year.
Mr. Chellgren said he hopes his company's donation will move other businesses and individuals to donate so the colleges and universities can receive the remaining $12 million in the state's matching fund before the Dec. 31 deadline.
Gov. Paul Patton said donations like Ashland Inc.'s are vital to Kentucky's continuing efforts to improve its system of higher education.
“I don't know of any effective higher education system in the nation that can be run by just government and tuition support,” Mr. Patton said.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
headHOW MUCH THEY'LL GET
Money each Kentucky university will receive from the Ashland donation:
• University of Kentucky, $1 million, five years.
• University of Louisville, $500,000, four years.
• Northern Kentucky University, $250,000, five years.
• Kentucky Community College and Technical College System, $200,000, four years.
• Western Kentucky University, $150,000, four years.
• Morehead State University, $105,000, three years.
• Eastern Kentucky University, $100,000, four years.
• Kentucky State University, $100,000, four years.
• Murray State University, $100,000, four years.
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