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PROGRESS & UPDATES
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News Archive: February 2006With your generous contributions, we have raised $12.3 million in gifts and pledges to date! That means we have only 15% – or $2.2 million – left to raise in the next few months. It is particularly encouraging that over a third of our campaign supporters are first-time donors to the College. How great it is to have new – and not-so-new – partners in the work and mission of Regent! Construction UpdateLibrary construction work has progressed well since beginning in mid-December. A fence was put up around the park and the excavation has begun. Approximately 450 dump-truck-loads of dirt – or 13,000 cubic yards! – will be removed to make way for the 28,500 square foot library. It’s a big hole! To take advantage of the reduced traffic on UBC campus, a good portion of the excavation work was done between Christmas and New Years. The hole is dug in stages with the walls reinforced at each level. Without giving any specific dates, Bill Stewart (our Building Committee Chair) says that the concrete formwork will be put in place before long. So far, actual costs are holding true to our budget. Several major trades have been awarded contracts, each one within our projected budget. This is encouraging. All remaining major trades will be issued for tender by the end of January as we work to fix as many costs as soon as possible. When a hole this size is dug, there are usually some surprises that are unearthed. Indeed, we’ve encountered a couple. A long-lost concrete hydro vault was discovered underground. Fortunately it was empty! A more costly discovery by the excavator's bucket was an unmarked electrical supply to one corner of the College's existing building. All power has now been restored without any casualties! The Building Committee is now spending the majority of its time working on the design details of the renovation portion of Regent's building program.
Information Technology UpgradesPart of our capital campaign is supporting an upgrade of our information technology systems. Over the past 18 months, all the core computer systems of the College (with the exception of the bookstore) have been replaced. The library system is now web-based, with many automated and helpful features. Library-users on campus – and around the world – have better remote access to the Library. As one student raved, “The new library system is great. I can search for resources from my apartment as well as at school on my own computer.” Raiser's Edge, a non-profit management software system, has enabled the Campaign Office, our US Foundation Office, and the Development Office team to share information and work together more efficiently. It’s user-friendly and much easier for staff to use as an information management tool. The Student Registration and Finance system, Datatel, has also ‘gone live.’ In the year ahead, web-based student services will be added, such as online grade checking and online applications. This is a great step forward to servicing our students well.
News from Around the CollegeAnnual Fund We are grateful to Bridgeway Foundation for their generous offer to match all annual fund pledges of three years with an equal gift to the capital campaign. Many of our consistent donors were able to take advantage of this opportunity in December, and still others are considering making a pledge for ’06, ’07 and ’08. Registration With the atrium now buzzing of students discussing their holiday adventures, 40 new students from nine countries have arrived to begin classes this winter term. We can be in prayer for them as they experience orientation (and disorientation) over the next few months. Including new and auditing students, about 575 students are registered for the winter term which started January 16. We are very thankful for your partnership in what God is doing at Regent College. Please pray with us for renewed energy and vigor as faculty and students begin a new term, for grace and diligence as staff return to heavy workloads, and for the Lord’s leading as people consider their participation in this next chapter of Regent’s history. If you have any questions about the Next Chapter capital campaign, please feel free to contact me at nextchapter@regent-college.edu. With warm regards, Brent Fearon Executive Director, Capital Campaign For December 2005 news, click here.For September 2005 news, click here.
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