President's Challenge Award

The University of Connecticut and the UConn Foundation proudly announce the President's Challenge Award to help strengthen support for undergraduate and graduate students. UConn President Michael J. Hogan's new initiative will provide matching awards for major gifts for need- and merit-based scholarships and fellowships. Our goal is to raise $100 million in student aid over the next five years to help current and future students fulfill their dream to earn a degree at Connecticut's flagship public institution.

Why Your Support is Needed

For today's students, the affordability of higher education has taken center stage. During the past decade, the cost of tuition and fees has risen at a rate that has far outpaced inflation. An in-state undergraduate student currently pays more than $18,000 annually for tuition, room and board, up from $11,000 just 10 years ago. The cost of graduate education has risen from $12,000 to $19,500.

In 2008, UConn allocated more than $50 million in need- and merit-based undergraduate scholarships and graduate fellowships. Private support currently represents less than 5 percent of the total given in scholarships and fellowships. With the demand for financial aid exceeding the supply of support and tough economic times ahead, there is no doubt that the need for private contributions will continue to grow.

University Match Boosts Private Gifts

The new match program is a landmark commitment to help raise $100 million for need- and merit-based undergraduate scholarships and graduate fellowships by 2013.

Newly established endowments in the amount of $25,000 or more and non-endowed gifts in the amount of $10,000 or more qualify for the program. Contributions can be designated to a specific school, college or department for need- or merit-based undergraduate scholarships and graduate fellowships. Donors may indicate that priority consideration be given to students in a particular major or program of study.

Endowment gifts may be paid over a maximum of five years. When the pledged gift amount is fulfilled, scholarships or fellowships awarded from the endowment in the ensuing four years will be matched at 100 percent by the University as a President's Challenge Award. The awards will be made to student recipients using the same criteria established by the donor. Establishing permanent endowments is encouraged for long-term investment in the University of Connecticut.

Non-endowed gifts may be paid over a maximum of four years and will trigger a matching President’s Challenge Award as each annual payment on the pledged gift amount is received. Non-endowed gifts will be matched at 50 percent.

The President's Challenge Award will be allocated on a first-come, first-serve basis, within the limits of available funding.

Importance of Scholarships & Fellowships

The President's Challenge Award program comes at a time when a more competitive global economy demands a workforce with complex skill sets, and when unprecedented challenges demand citizens prepared to respond to them. Gifts to support graduate students and undergraduates at UConn, matched by the President's Challenge Award, will enhance the University's ability to achieve these outcomes and directly benefit students. As the University continues its commitment to educating the best and brightest students, your support will make an important difference.