UAlbany Alumni at Deloitte and the Deloitte Foundation Pledge $525,000 to Establish Endowment for the School of Business

Capital campaign to support faculty research and infrastructure development

Contact(s):  Catherine Herman (518) 956-8150

ALBANY, N.Y. (December 10, 2008) -- University at Albany alumni at Deloitte and the Deloitte Foundation today committed $525,000 to UAlbany's School of Business to establish the Deloitte Foundation Endowment and the Accounting Chair Deloitte Foundation Opportunity Fund. The endowment will support faculty research, and establish and maintain state-of-the-art teaching facilities within the school’s new building. The Opportunity Fund will enable the Accounting Department chair to support faculty research, student participation in symposiums and competitions, and other opportunities to enhance their academic experience.

This is the largest gift to date in support of the new School of Business building, featuring technologically advanced classrooms and meeting spaces, wireless internet access, breakout rooms for team projects, space for student and career services, student reception areas, and more graduate assistant work space. The University received $54 million in support from the 2008-09 New York State budget for the new state-of-the-art academic and research facility. The building is expected to be completed by 2013.

"UAlbany is very grateful to alumni at Deloitte and the Deloitte Foundation for their commitment to the School of Business and advancing our goal of becoming the premier business school in the Northeast," said UAlbany Interim President George M. Philip. "Deloitte boasts some of our most committed graduates and we appreciate their leadership and vision in helping the school realize its full potential."

Deloitte currently employs 24 partners and 130 professionals that are alumni of the University at Albany School of Business. This base of graduates have become increasingly more supportive of and engaged with the University's faculty and student body.

"Like many of the UAlbany alumni at Deloitte, I have a real affinity to the School of Business as it has played an integral role in much of our individual professional success," said Jeff Black '76, Deloitte LLP senior partner and board member. "That said, we are all extremely committed to supporting the growth of the school’s curriculum, facilities and faculty research initiatives."

The School of Business helps students develop critical business management skills essential for achieving long-term success. Offering both full-time and part-time programs, the School of Business incorporates a multi-faceted approach to learning that fosters an interactive and “high tech” learning environment, and applied experience in on-site field projects with local and national firms.

"It's with great pleasure that we pledge our support to the UAlbany School of Business," said Deloitte Foundation President Shaun Budnik. "Its commitment to setting the standard in academic excellence is in line with our organization’s goals and objectives."

The School of Business is engaged in exceptional undergraduate, graduate and executive programs; pioneering research; and the ethical and globally oriented pursuit of business opportunity. The School is renowned for innovative contributions to the business and accounting professions through discovery, communication and the application of new knowledge. Eighty-five percent of School of Business undergraduates are employed fulltime by three months of graduation and another 12 percent go on to graduate school. Some 97 percent of MBA graduates are placed in fulltime positions within three months of graduation.

The Deloitte Foundation is a not-for-profit organization that supports teaching, research, and curriculum innovation in accounting, business, and related fields within the U.S. The Foundation, founded in 1928, supports an array of national programs, which are relevant to a variety of professional services, and which benefit middle/high school students, undergraduates, graduate students and faculty.

For more news, subscribe to UAlbany's RSS headline feeds

Educationally and culturally, the University at Albany-SUNY puts "The World Within Reach" for its 18,000 students. An internationally recognized research university with 56 undergraduate majors and 128 graduate degree programs, UAlbany is a leader among all New York State colleges and universities in such diverse fields as public policy, nanotechnology and criminal justice. With a curriculum enhanced by 300 study-abroad opportunities, UAlbany launches great careers. For more information about this globally ranked University, visit www.albany.edu. For UAlbany's extensive roster of faculty experts, visit www.albany.edu/news/experts.shtml.