WCU doing well in fundraising

CHESTER COUNTY

WCU doing well in fund-raising

WEST CHESTER West Chester University has been successful in its fund-raising efforts, but it still needs to continue developing new revenue streams to offset state funding cuts and handle increased enrollment to thrive in the future, university president Greg Weisenstein said.

The West Chester University Foundation raised $7.6 million last academic year, a record for the foundation, Weisenstein said. The "Becoming More" fund-raising campaign, launched in the spring, has reached more than half of its $50 million goal.

"Given our successes, as well as solid planning, the level of confidence and pride in WCU has risen dramatically," Weisenstein said during the university's annual "State of the University" address Thursday afternoon.

Still, last year, the university lost $1.6 million in state funding. Under a new state fund-raising formula that will be phased in over the next several years, the university will lose about $3.5 million annually, Weisenstein said.

The university is focused on upgrading and adding buildings, expanding its distance education, strengthening relationships with community colleges, and exploring off-site locations and co-locations, such as its campus in Philadelphia, he said. - Michaelle Bond