February 27, 2015
I am pleased to begin this month’s letter with some wonderful news regarding our campaign. We have reached a significant milestone in our journey, one that only five other universities have achieved in the history of higher education: USC has surpassed the $4 billion mark. Among all colleges and universities in our nation, only Harvard, Cornell, Stanford, Penn, and Columbia have accomplished this, and what is even more remarkable: we achieved this landmark in just four and a half years. I share this news with great pride and gratitude, as it represents the collective efforts and dedication of the entire Trojan Family, with gifts coming from every corner of the globe, and every constituent group in our community.
More important than the money raised, though, is how this success benefits academic excellence at USC. Of the $4 billion, $1.4 billion was directed to our university endowment, including student scholarships and student aid. In the last four and a half years alone, this endowment has allowed us to create 77 new faculty chairs. In addition, of the money raised, $2.1 billion has advanced other academic priorities, comprising faculty research programs, research institutes, school-based programs, and the medical enterprise, including pediatric research and care. Finally, of the $4 billion, $500 million has supported building construction.
I would like to take this opportunity to personally acknowledge our trustees, who have led the way with their singular generosity, along with our dedicated parents and alumni. Collectively, our trustees have given a total of $1.12 billion to the campaign. It is also noteworthy that an extraordinary 60 percent of the total amount raised has come from non-alumni. And, as another point of pride, USC Athletics has raised nearly $280 million during this campaign, thereby achieving its most successful fundraising ever—all against the backdrop of NCAA sanctions.
As we celebrate our success, and work toward our larger goal of $6 billion, I have emphasized to our community that now is not the time to become complacent. We still have $2 billion left to raise, and the final stretch of any campaign is always the most difficult. Our deans have done an outstanding job inspiring their schools’ communities, and I would like to warmly commend their exceptional leadership. Moving forward, we must redouble our efforts, and remind ourselves of our mission.
Neighborhood Academic Initiative expands its reach
As one example of the campaign’s extraordinary impact, USC’s Neighborhood Academic Initiative (NAI)—which has prepared hundreds of local students for college since 1991—will grow dramatically in the coming years. Thanks to a generous $5 million gift from USC Trustee Joan Payden, the initiative will expand to reach some 1,100 students in grades six through 12 by 2020, including 600 additional children and teens in the neighborhoods near our Health Sciences Campus. NAI’s cornerstone will be the newly named Joan A. Payden Student Academy.
Trojans at the World Economic Forum
In January, I was delighted to attend the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, as a special guest of the Global University Leaders Forum (GULF). This annual gathering draws leaders in the areas of education, business, and government from all over the world, and USC traditionally has a strong presence. This year, USC Trustees Marc Benioff, Jane Harman, and Suzanne Nora Johnson attended, along with Dean Elizabeth Daley and Professor David Agus. A number of our esteemed alumni were also present, including Husodo Angkosubroto, chairman at Gunung Sewu Kencana in Indonesia; John Defterios, a journalist with CNN; Ivan Glasenberg, CEO of Glencore International AG; and Jim Hart, president and CEO of Senn Delaney. Trojan Kevin Mahaffey, who co-founded Lookout in 2007, was among the under-30 entrepreneurs at the event. During my week in Davos, I met with Emilio Lozoya Austin, CEO of PEMEX, and Michael Dell, founder and CEO of Dell Inc., and contributed a piece to Agenda, the online publication for the World Economic Forum.
USC and Uber establish partnership
This semester, USC entered into a test program with Uber to supplement the university’s Campus Cruiser program within our University Park neighborhood. This added ride-sharing option is now available on Thursday through Sunday evenings, from 8 p.m. to midnight. The initiative has already proven tremendously popular, and students’ nighttime transports increased 69 percent since last year.
Niki and I wish to thank you for your continued support of USC, and for sharing our successes with your family and friends. In this spirit, I’d like to share an article that recently appeared in The Washington Post, as it nicely captures our shared vision for the university’s future. We’d also like to warmly congratulate USC Trustee Ming Hsieh on his recent election to the National Academy of Engineering. This is a wonderful and well-deserved honor on his part, and we are so pleased to see his exceptional contributions recognized.
Yours truly,
C. L. Max Nikias
President