by Brandi E. Baumeister
Staff Writer
The Fletcher Jones Foundation, a California nonprofit benefit corporation, has granted the proposal of the Biology Department for $1.5 million “to endow and establish the Fletcher Jones Chair in Biology at the University of La Verne.”
“We began pursuing the grant two years ago,” said John Gingrich, dean of the college of arts and sciences. “The Foundation was known to give endowed chairs to institutions in California.”
Ellen Liefer, who worked for University Relations at the time, approached Dr. Gingrich and asked what area the University would be interested in pursuing an endowed chair.
“We felt we had a strong chance in the natural sciences, so we had Bob Neher, Jay Jones, Harvey Good and Dan Merritt put together a proposal,” said Dr. Gingrich.
The first proposal to the Foundation was not approved and La Verne was asked to look to other areas within the University for an endowment.
Last year Dr. Gingrich and Barbara Jefferson, ULV development director, met with John Smythe, executive director for the Fletcher Jones Foundation.
“It became clear in our conversation that they were open to a revised proposal for a biology chair,” said Dr. Gingrich.
After rewriting the proposal, the University submitted it on July 22 to the Foundation for its September board meeting.
Jefferson received a call from the executive director of the Fletcher Jones Foundation on Thursday, Sept. 19, letting her know the proposal had been accepted.
The University must agree to follow the provisions of the policy statement and conditions within the grant. The University is obligated to contact the Foundation approximately once every six months to ensure the guidelines for the grant are being properly implemented.
Once a chair holder has been nominated, the foundation will be informed of the nominee’s identity and provided with the person’s curriculum, plans, publications and scholarly writings.
Following the appointment of the chair, the University will submit an annual report to the Foundation on all academic activities of the new chair. The University is also required to “express an opinion as to the benefits from the chair holder’s presence on campus.
The $1.5 million grant, will be funded in payments to the University over a three year period with $500,000 paid each year.
The money used will be from the interest accumulated from the principle of the endowment.
The installments are invested with the interest being added to the principal of the grant. After a three year period with $1 million initially invested the Foundation will look at the total amount and add money to raise that total up to $1.5 million.
“We are going to put together a capital campaign task force and see if we have any other areas for endowed chairs. We have one opportunity in the Business Department,” said Dr. Stephen Morgan, president of the University.
