Alverno College announced on Tuesday that it had received a donation of $10 million John and Tashia Morgridge through the TOSA Foundation. This donation, one of the largest in the college’s history, “will support strategic growth and innovation to educate and empower future leaders to meet the new challenges in our communities,” Alverno’s press release said. Alverno College is a Catholic liberal arts college for women founded in 1887. Alverno is one of many colleges and universities that have experienced financial difficulties recently due to declining enrollment. Beginning of the yearAlverno announced plans to cut 25 faculty and 12 staff positions and reduce the number of undergraduate and graduate degree programs offered to save costs. The college also announced it would disband its track and field team.
Kelly Coleassistant director of marketing and communications at Alverno College, said these layoffs and program changes “remain in place” because they were “necessary for the long-term financial stability of the college.” Cole said it was “too early” to say whether the Morgridges’ donation would result in changes to program offerings or positions. “I don’t think any decisions have been made yet about how the money will be distributed,” Cole said. President of Alverno College Christy Brown said in the press release that “the Morgridges’ gift will have an immediate and lasting impact on Alverno and our students.” “We are deeply grateful for the Morgridges’ extraordinary investment in Alverno College at an important time in our history,” Brown said in the press release. John Morgridge is the former CEO and chairman of Cisco systemswhile Tashia Morgridge is a former special education teacher. The Morgridges have also given significant gifts to the University of Wisconsin-Madison, their alma mater. Three years ago, the Morgridges donated $125 million to UW-Madison’s School of Computer, Data & Information Sciences. They also pledged in 2014 to match up to $100 million in donations made by others to UW-Madison. “Alverno College is a great asset to the community,” John and Tashia Morgridge said in the press release. “This donation expresses our deep confidence in Alverno, and we hope it inspires and challenges others who value the power of education to invest in Alverno and its students as well.”
Kathy Hudsonthe chair of the Alverno College Board of Trustees, said the Morgridges’ gift was “transformative.” “This gift is a clear affirmation that the work of Alverno’s faculty, staff and students is important and vital to our community,” Hudson said in the release. (caption id=”attachment_534582″ align=”aligncenter” width=”775″)
John and Tashia Morgridge (/caption)
