The Southern Arkansas University Board of Trustees and Southern Arkansas University Foundation Board of Governors today accepted a feasibility study presented by the J.F. Smith Group, authorizing SAU President Dr. Trey Berry to move forward with the development of a comprehensive fund-raising campaign that will launch in the coming months.
The SAU Foundation funded the study and contracted with the J.F. Smith Group to assess the perceptions of the University’s constituency as well as determine campaign readiness; the results of that study were presented to the Board of Trustees and Board of Governors in a joint meeting today at SAU. The study was a culmination of more than 100 personal interviews, three focus groups and 500 responses to an online survey.
“At the beginning of my tenure, I said it would take all of us working together all of the time. This initiative will certainly put that to the test,” Berry said. “I look forward to bringing us closer to all our constituents across the world with our growing alumni base of more than 30,000. We want to find the right level of engagement for all who care about SAU and want to be able to directly, positively impact the success of our students.”
The report was distributed to both boards today and several recommendations were made. The Board of Trustees found these recommendations appropriate based on documentation included in the report and feedback from participants.
Recommendations include: a working campaign goal; campaign opportunities; campaign infrastructure and staffing; strengths, consistencies and challenges provided by the participants; and campaign management. Both boards authorized Berry to move forward with these philanthropic efforts and report back to each periodically.
The J.F. Smith Group presented an organizational chart detailing the staffing of the campaign. The Board of Trustees authorized Berry to prepare a plan to implement this structure and establish a transition committee in consultation with the Foundation Board of Governors chair to research and resolve issues in implementing the recommendations.
Members of the Board of Trustees are: Steve Keith of Magnolia, chair; Edgar O. Lee of Chidester; David Nelson of Magnolia; Lawrence Bearden of Smackover, and Therral Story of Magnolia.
Local members of the Foundation Board include: Debbie Arnold, Dr. Claude Baker, Molly Burns, Steve Keith, Julia Machen, Dr. David F. Rankin, Bo Ray and Tom Watson.
The J.F. Smith Group, a project-management firm based in Auburn, Ala., specializes in helping clients reach their recommended campaign goal as determined by feasibility study. For additional information on the J.F. Smith Group, please visit www.jfsg.com.
