For Immediate Release

January 8, 2004

TSU rises to Lilly challenge and expands Capital Campaign Goal

On Wednesday, Tri-State University announced it had met the Lilly Endowment challenge titled Special Initiative to Strengthen Philanthropy of Indiana Higher Education Institutions. Thru it, Lilly hoped to increase individuals’ interest in the vitality and effectiveness of educational institutions.

“I’m proud and happy to announce that Tri-State University has received gifts exceeding the $3.5 million goal from its alumni, friends, parents, students, faculty and staff,” said Dr. Earl. D. Brooks, II, president. “It says a lot about our institution when people support it so enthusiastically.”

In a related challenge which ended last Dec. 31, the foundation matched $1 million in gifts raised among Tri-State University trustees and an additional $750,000 grant was also received from Lilly in December of 2003 to develop new, or expand, current internship and job placement programs. Altogether, since the summer of 2002, Tri-State University has received $5.4 million from the Lilly Endowment and will realize a total of $9 million in gifts, thanks to Lilly. Along with funding the campus improvement projects, the money raised will be used to build the school’s endowment.

Tri-State University has already put its money to work. Under Brooks’ tenure, the University created an aggressive master plan and had initially set out to raise $45 million in its current campaign “A Vision for the Future.” The campaign has already hit the $30 million mark, surpassing the previous “New Horizons” campaign of $22 million. As a result, the administration and board members will be meeting at the end of this month, to discuss increasing the goal and the length of the campaign to coincide with the 125^th anniversary in 2009.

Since Brooks’ arrival in 2000, Forman Hall has been renovated into a one-stop center for the academic and financial business needs of prospective and current students. Centennial Station coffee house has been opened in the basement of Forman and has quickly become a popular campus meeting place.

Only a few weeks ago, construction began on apartment-style on-campus living quarters for upperclassmen. Work is also underway on renovation of Hershey Hall, TSU’s athletic facility.

This spring, the renovation of Sniff Hall—the 1887 building which long served as the focal point of upper campus—will begin. Future plans include construction of a new sports complex, and the renovation and expansion of Stewart Hall, Tri-State University’s largest residence hall.

Academically, Tri-State University has been making changes as well. The University’s first graduate level program, the Master of Science in Engineering Technology, began in 2003. Several new courses of study have been added, including a major in forensic science and minors in entrepreneurship minor and bioengineering.

Criminal justice recently became Tri-State University’s fastest growing program. To meet the needs of adult students, the Angola Evening Program recently added a criminal justice degree to its offerings. (TSU’s Adult Studies also has programs in Fort Wayne, South Bend and Merrillville.)

In athletics, Tri-State University is on the move. The University is currently a member of the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA), and will become a provisional member of the NCAA Division III in the 2004-2005 academic year.

"The Lilly Foundation’s match offer came at just the right time," said Bob Remington, vice president for Institutional Advancement. "The aftermath of 9/11 created a tough financial situation for everyone, but especially for small, non-profit institutions like Tri-State University. But now the economy is recovering and the Lilly money, along with the support of our trustees, alumni, friends, parents, faculty & staff, will give us a wonderful push as we enter a new year."

Tri-State University is a private, independent, co-educational institution offering associate, baccalaureate and master degrees in over 40 programs to students in engineering, mathematics, science, computer science, business administration, teacher education, communications, criminal justice and social sciences. Founded in 1884, Tri-State University today operates a 485-acre main campus in Angola, IN, with off-campus centers in Fort Wayne, South Bend and Merrillville, IN.