In the last budget, the New Hampshire state legislature cut state university funding by nearly half, as part of an effort to deal with a large budget gap opened up by unrealistic revenue forecasts issued by the previous legislature. Today, the NH Union-Leader reports an all-time best in fundraising success for the state university system:
Gifts and pledges in fiscal 2012, which ended June 30, were up more than 77 percent from last year, to a total of $22.5 million.
The goal was $20 million.
The total raised is second only to the final year of the last capital campaign in 2002, according to a release from the foundation.
The president of the university obliquely seems to acknowledge the role of budget cuts in the fundraising success:
“As we continue to plan for a comprehensive campaign, this represents a vote of confidence in UNH from more than 19,000 alumni and friends,” UNH President Mark W. Huddleston said.
Huddleston also is serving as the interim president of the UNH Foundation.
“Private support, especially in light of a historic cut in public funding from the New Hampshire Legislature, is crucial for student scholarship support and faculty development,” he said.
Wow! Fancy that.