All UC alumni want to see their university flourish and their hard-earned degrees increase in value over time. A new initiative called 1819 addresses those goals in a very straightforward, logical and inclusive way:

•     Many factors combine to shape a university’s reputation, and one of the most influential is its ranking among other colleges and universities across the country.

•     An important component of U.S. News & World Report’s annual rankings is the percentage of undergraduate alumni who give to their university each year. This metric is known as “alumni participation.”

•     UC’s alumni participation rate is currently 12.1 percent. For comparison’s sake, UC alumni last year ranked 13th out of the 16 Big East Conference schools and trailed neighboring universities such as Ohio State, Miami, Xavier and Kentucky. Nevertheless, the participation rate had been 11 percent last year, which shows it is continuing to grow.

•     Boosting UC’s rate to 18.19 percent in the next two years is part of UC2019, President Gregory Williams’ new strategic plan for the university. “We can only reach this goal by activating our vibrant Bearcat network,” President Williams says.

•     1819 asks alumni who haven’t given to UC recently (or ever) to make a gift of just $18.19, which will “move the needle” and help boost UC’s overall ranking.

The rollout of 1819 began at Homecoming last October. An 1819 contingent marched in the annual parade down Clifton Avenue, and “Engagement Teams” (including many current students) roamed campus to raise awareness and enlist $18.19 gifts on the spot.An 1819 website (www.uc.edu/1819) has attracted thousands of visitors and hundreds of gifts. It houses an honor roll of 1819 donors, a list of FAQs and a compilation of videos featuring President Williams, students and many others in the UC community. Those videos have run at Bearcat football and basketball games.

Friendly competition for 1819 gifts is also being waged within dozens of UC’s regional alumni networks nationwide. With annual gifts coming from only about one out of every 10 alumni, there is tremendous upside in this crucial initiative.
“If you haven’t made a gift, you have the power to push our alumni participation rate higher, so we encourage you to give $18.19 and move that needle,” says UC Alumni Association executive director Myron Hughes, Bus ’86. “If you already give back to UC annually, we say, ’Thank you!’ And we urge you to spread the word within your own UC network.
“As each of us becomes an 1819 ambassador, our giving rate and overall ranking will jump — and so will the value of our degrees.”

’Moveable Feast’ satisfies craving for culinary, artistic delights

What better way to support the rising stars of tomorrow than to enjoy the stars of today? Returning to the College-Conservatory of Music in January after a two-year hiatus, “A Movable Feast” featured samplings of artistic and culinary delights throughout CCM Village. Guests received exclusive backstage tours and 30-minute bursts of student entertainment between their destinations.
Almost every part of CCM got in on the fun, including chamber music, winds, dance, drama, electronic media, big-band jazz, musical theater, opera/voice, orchestra, piano and preparatory performers. The evening’s program began in Corbett Auditorium with a Philharmonia and chorale prelude, then concluded with a “Hot Jazz Finale.”

Event proceeds supported student scholarships for CCM’s best and brightest future performers. If you missed this year’s event, get ready for January 2012.

CAMPAIGN UPDATE

Time frame:  July 1, 2005 - June 30, 2013

Goal: $1 billion

Raised: $739.05 million (through Jan. 31, 2011)

Campaign Funding Totals by Priority

• Real-world learning: $5,373,341

• Health in the 21st century: $188,993,530

• Pioneering science and technology: $74,776,245

• Creativity in the arts, design, humanities: $15,346,872

• Innovative urban partnerships: $29,697,417

• The UC experience: $27,326,151

• Commitments restricted to other campus needs: $397,541,080

Proudly Pennies Campaign
125,113,916 pennies raised by students
(through Jan. 31, 2011)
Goal: One billion pennies ($10 million)

Campaign website

Magazine content for the Proudly
Cincinnati campaign section provided by the UC Foundation Marketing & Communications.

Related articles:
Student philanthropy after hours
Feature on UC students who study abroad