annual report/2006 - University of Melbourne

inding the
strands together/
to improve effectiveness and efficiency
in IT. In 2006 the model to guide
implementation, the Service Catalogue
and Charter, and the first Service
Prospectus were developed. A key
milestone was reached when the eight
Administration IT units were transitioned
in August.
7. Fundraising
The University’s endowment and the
generosity of its community in giving
is significant by Australian standards,
but nevertheless small compared to
first-class universities internationally.
Greater investment in fundraising is
critical to the success of Growing
Esteem, both for scholarships and for
research. In 2006 the University took its
first decisive steps towards coordinated,
campus-wide fundraising, and laid the
groundwork for the launch of a major
campaign.
The Advancement Strategic Plan
adopted in 2006 sets priorities to be
addressed as the University prepares
for a major fundraising campaign. A
Director (Advancement) was appointed
to lead a greatly enlarged Development
Office (renamed the ‘Advancement
Office’) in implementing the Plan.
Staff have been recruited during the
year, with numbers increasing from
12 to 26.
Table 8. University annual appeal results
UniFund/University
Fund
Number
of Donors
To embed the strategy across the
University, staff training in Advancement
was introduced, with intensive short
courses for deans and faculty external
relations staff conducted by the Indiana
Centre for Philanthropy.
Donor prospect research has
commenced, with systematic
management of donor contacts
introduced. A parallel stewardship
program had been introduced for
existing major donors, with each
assigned a ‘relationship manager’ to
cultivate their relationship with the
University.
A recognition program ‘The Heritage
Society’, was established for existing
bequestors to enhance the University’s
contact with those who have already
pledged support through their wills.
The University also took the first steps
down the path of a structured campuswide
fundraising program. The annual
UniFund appeal to alumni was replaced
with a direct mail appeal. The University
Fund, which included a Challenge Match
to stimulate first-time donors with
matching funds, and a reward program
(The Chancellor’s Circle) to stimulate
larger donations were introduced.
Results exceeded all expectations with
participation lifted from 921 to 1,906
donors, giving trebled, and the cost kept
to 32 cents per dollar raised.
2005 2006
$ Number
of Donors
921 $180,511 1,810 $505,923
Law Appeal 118 $22,453 2 $500
Staff and Council
Appeal
$
30 $165,230
Student Appeal 60 $3,625
USA Foundation 22 $2,600 106 $12,500
TOTAL 1,061 $205,564 2,008 $687,778
New Donors 276 $40,531 733 $120,570
Chancellor’s Circle 309
profile
Professor Richard James
Director of the University’s Centre
for the Study of Higher Education
(CSHE), Professor Richard James,
was appointed in 2006 to a Chair in
Higher Education. Professor James
has a distinguished research record
in access and equity,particularly on
access for rural students and the
effects of social class on higher
education aspirations. His work also
covers the transition of students
to tertiary study and university life,
the student experience, learning
assessment and quality assurance in
the higher education sector.
The CSHE provides many of the
tools and guiding principles used
nationally and internationally for the
improvement of higher education.
In 2002 Professor James
coordinated the CSHE team that
completed an extensive national
review of higher education equity
policy. In 2005 he led the CSHE
project team that designed the
Carrick Awards for Australian
University Teaching, the national
scheme for recognising excellence
in teaching in higher education.
The University of Melbourne Annual Report 2006
57