Penley: UD needs to work on its 'coherent story'
Heather Nelson
Issue date: 11/17/09 Section: News
He also cited the pedagogy at UD as another source of its uniqueness. "It is a pedagogy that creates a level of discourse, a level of challenge in the classroom and outside the classroom that leads to people thinking about issues and questioning issues," Penley said.
When asked about what he thought the future held for UD, Penley answered, "There are a certain set of signals that I believe are consistent with where the University needs to go.
"One of those signals, I believe, has to do with the sense of looking outward from the University, not to transform the University internally, but to represent it more fully to the external world to increase its potential for attracting students and to increase its potential for attracting donations."
Penley added that he had heard UD called a "best-kept secret" and said, "That is a sad statement. It shouldn't be a best-kept secret."
Another signal that Penley thought was positive was what he described as "the desire to really respect all forms of the expression of the Catholic faith" and "not to be ideologically driven in a way that demands a certain form of the expression of the faith."
When asked about his concrete plans for fundraising for an institution like UD, Penley replied, "One of the things you do is establish relationships with key people who have the potential to make donations to the university. I think as well the university has to establish for itself and make clear what its story is."
"A lot of times, I think, when people go about fundraising they look and say, 'Well gee, here's what we want,' or 'Here's what we need' … but the way one raises money is finding a philanthropist who already has a dream and presenting an opportunity at the university to fulfill that dream," Penley said.
"But one doesn't, in a way, forsake the university to accomplish that because in the end, it is the university that donors will buy into," Penley continued. He added that the faculty and students are what has sold most of his donors in the past.
When asked about what he thought the future held for UD, Penley answered, "There are a certain set of signals that I believe are consistent with where the University needs to go.
"One of those signals, I believe, has to do with the sense of looking outward from the University, not to transform the University internally, but to represent it more fully to the external world to increase its potential for attracting students and to increase its potential for attracting donations."
Penley added that he had heard UD called a "best-kept secret" and said, "That is a sad statement. It shouldn't be a best-kept secret."
Another signal that Penley thought was positive was what he described as "the desire to really respect all forms of the expression of the Catholic faith" and "not to be ideologically driven in a way that demands a certain form of the expression of the faith."
When asked about his concrete plans for fundraising for an institution like UD, Penley replied, "One of the things you do is establish relationships with key people who have the potential to make donations to the university. I think as well the university has to establish for itself and make clear what its story is."
"A lot of times, I think, when people go about fundraising they look and say, 'Well gee, here's what we want,' or 'Here's what we need' … but the way one raises money is finding a philanthropist who already has a dream and presenting an opportunity at the university to fulfill that dream," Penley said.
"But one doesn't, in a way, forsake the university to accomplish that because in the end, it is the university that donors will buy into," Penley continued. He added that the faculty and students are what has sold most of his donors in the past.
Viewing Comments 1 - 3 of 4
Concerned
posted 11/19/09 @ 9:03 PM CST
This is deeply troubling for several reasons.
Penley says that the proper approach to fundraising at UD is "finding a philanthropist who already has a dream and presenting an opportunity at the university to fulfill that dream. (Continued…)
Reiner Z
ReinerZ
posted 11/23/09 @ 2:26 PM CST
"UD must not allow its identity to be compromised."
Looking around it seems as if it might not be such a bad idea to re-work our business/fundraising structure a bit. (Continued…)
Frog Leg
posted 12/02/09 @ 9:11 AM CST
Regarding UD's "coherent story," UD never had one. It wants to pretend it can be both an orthodox Catholic school and a Great Books school. However, these two strands have always fundamentally in conflict. (Continued…)
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