Quote:Private annual giving at OU’s main Athens campus alone rose from $1.1 million in 1969 to $53.85 million in 2012, according to the council’s data.

“Private fundraising is a crucial component of the budgeting process in higher education, and presidential involvement signals its value,” OU President Roderick McDavis said in a statement. “Each dollar raised heightens our ability to provide transformative educational experiences to students.”

Moving forward, Benchoff said he hopes to create a five-year plan that will put the university on the way to having a billion dollar endowment, and give the Division of University Advancement the opportunity to become self-sufficient.

“We’re all about, frankly, how do we become a billion dollar foundation?” Benchoff said. “When we arrive anywhere close to that point, I think we will be very close to conducting our operations in a self-sufficient manner.”

http://thepost.ohiou.edu/content/private...und-growth

From $53 million to $1 billion is quite a lofty goal.

There is a lot of discussion on how academics play a factor into realignment decisions.

After AAU membership, the second biggest indicator of strong academic backing is not the USNWR. It is the endowment because its something that is directly measurable and not subjective.

Some would say that a 1 Billion dollar endowment isn't significant when a school like Texas is at 20 Billion because its all relative. The endowment discussion really isn't that relative because once a school hits a certain threshold of money they'll be able to buy up the kind of students they want to have.

A case in point is Louisville. Many on here don't think they make the grade for the ACC but the school now has a 750 million endowment and admissions have gone through the roof. This is mainly due to the amount of scholarship money now offered by the school.

There is also something to be said for having a significantly sized endowment. An endowment of 430 million+ like the University of Denver has puts it in the league of the top liberal arts colleges which mostly are in the 300-500 million dollar range. It says something about the school.

Plenty of snickers on here about WVU's academics and that they can't handle the B1G academically but one of their strong points highlighted by the B1G was their land grant institutional status and their endowment which is now at 597 million. They aren't at 1 billion yet but they are on there way. Rutgers is at 694 million, Maryland is at 819 million. That is why I wouldn't totally dismiss the idea of WVU in the B1G.

(11-05-2013 06:02 PM)HeartOfDixie Wrote:  From $53 million to $1 billion is quite a lofty goal.

53 million was the giving just in 2012

My bad. $409 to $1 billion is more manageable, but still a humongous goal.

(11-05-2013 06:02 PM)HeartOfDixie Wrote:  From $53 million to $1 billion is quite a lofty goal.

$53 million was the individual giving in 2012.

The school post campaign which concludes in 2015 is supposed to be around 700 million. If the money is invested properly it could hit 1 billion by 2020 easily.

Quote:As a cornerstone of the campaign, the university would like to increase its endowment from $286million to more than $600 million. Colleges generally invest endowment money and use the earnings to provide a stable source of funding.

Nearly 70 percent of the money raised will go to the endowment and be used for five broad areas: supporting core academic initiatives; increasing student scholarships and faculty-endowed professorships; investing in research; renovating campus buildings; and expanding outreach efforts such as a free clinic and OU's Kids on Campus programs.

http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/...-450m.html

So 70% of the 450 million raised (315 million) will go to the endowment in June of 2015. If the endowment is sitting at 450 million right now that will put Ohio at around 765 million within 2 years.

Fairly easily the school could hit 1 billion by 2020 with prudent investment.

If you reach $1 billion do you get to name yourselves The University of Ohio?

In all seriousness, it seems fair.

each conference weights academics differently, their really is no same equation that each conference follows. aau is a big deal, but the problem with aau is that with a few exceptions (ISU, KU) high academic rankings & aau membership go hand & hand. so are these schools getting added because of the aau or because of their academic rankings. after what happened with SU & UNL i think a lot of conferences will be hesitant to add a school based solely on their aau status. so thats very bad news for ISU & KU

heres how id rank it. the p12 & sec are the hardest to figure out because for the p12 theres not an abundance of aau/high academic schools to choose from out there so theres really no precedent to follow. the sec went aau heavy but that was because they were really weak in that area. now that they have 4 aau schools its really hard to say what they do next.

a big thing to note is that besides texas, theres no other AAU worth taking that can be added, so going forward its really hard to debate AAU in future conference realignment.

as you can tell only the b10 did i rank aau as the top choice, because as i said before every decent aau is off the table except texas

B10
AAU (an absolute pre req)
arwu
research ranks
flagship status or elite academia
large enrollment
endowment
us news

acc
us news
school size (private to medium land grant)
AAU
endowment

b12
try to have an endowment above 100 mill

pac12 (its pretty hard to tell with this conference)
flagship status
arwu
endowment
research ranks
us news
AAU

SEC
flagship status or elite academia
us news
AAU
endowment

The AAU requirement for the Big10 waived bye-bye.

(11-05-2013 07:44 PM)HeartOfDixie Wrote:  The AAU requirement for the Big10 waived bye-bye.

not really. what made the b10 so unique and so prestigious academically was that they were one of just 2 conferences in all of college sports that had 100% aau membership.

the other was a d3 league called the university athletic conference (nicknamed the egghead eight & nerdy nine) which was founded about 25 years ago.

the b10 took a huge hit by having 1 none aau member, but that still puts them on par with the ivy league who only has 1 non aau member as well.

in other words. the academic integrity of the b10s percentage of AAU schools is still at stake & still VERY valuable.

(11-05-2013 07:48 PM)john01992 Wrote:  

(11-05-2013 07:44 PM)HeartOfDixie Wrote:  The AAU requirement for the Big10 waived bye-bye.

not really. what made the b10 so unique and so prestigious academically was that they were one of just 2 conferences in all of college sports that had 100% aau membership.

the other was a d3 league called the university athletic conference (nicknamed the egghead eight & nerdy nine) which was founded about 25 years ago.

the b10 took a huge hit by having 1 none aau member, but that still puts them on par with the ivy league who only has 1 non aau member as well.

in other words. the academic integrity of the b10s percentage of AAU schools is still at stake & still VERY valuable.

The Big10 isn't even in the same solar system as the Ivy League.

Nebraska ended the guise of academic prestige. Let's be honest, it would be in the lower half of the SEC.

(11-05-2013 07:58 PM)HeartOfDixie Wrote:  

(11-05-2013 07:48 PM)john01992 Wrote:  

(11-05-2013 07:44 PM)HeartOfDixie Wrote:  The AAU requirement for the Big10 waived bye-bye.

not really. what made the b10 so unique and so prestigious academically was that they were one of just 2 conferences in all of college sports that had 100% aau membership.

the other was a d3 league called the university athletic conference (nicknamed the egghead eight & nerdy nine) which was founded about 25 years ago.

the b10 took a huge hit by having 1 none aau member, but that still puts them on par with the ivy league who only has 1 non aau member as well.

in other words. the academic integrity of the b10s percentage of AAU schools is still at stake & still VERY valuable.

The Big10 isn't even in the same solar system as the Ivy League.

Nebraska ended the guise of academic prestige. Let's be honest, it would be in the lower half of the SEC.

UNL
71st arwu
96 US news
endowment 1.24 bill


ten: 104
scar: 111
LSU: 124
Kentucky: 129
Ole Miss: 143
Miss State: 151

UNL is an average SEC school in US news, their awru & endowment propel them into the top half of the sec

the b10 is not ivy league level but its still very prestigious to have even one non aau member. its still beneficial to the b10 to keep their AAU policy intact

Seems pretty doubtful OU will be able to go from just over $400M to $1B in a little over 6 years time. That's too optimistic of a time frame, imo.

(11-05-2013 08:10 PM)john01992 Wrote:  

(11-05-2013 07:58 PM)HeartOfDixie Wrote:  

(11-05-2013 07:48 PM)john01992 Wrote:  

(11-05-2013 07:44 PM)HeartOfDixie Wrote:  The AAU requirement for the Big10 waived bye-bye.

not really. what made the b10 so unique and so prestigious academically was that they were one of just 2 conferences in all of college sports that had 100% aau membership.

the other was a d3 league called the university athletic conference (nicknamed the egghead eight & nerdy nine) which was founded about 25 years ago.

the b10 took a huge hit by having 1 none aau member, but that still puts them on par with the ivy league who only has 1 non aau member as well.

in other words. the academic integrity of the b10s percentage of AAU schools is still at stake & still VERY valuable.

The Big10 isn't even in the same solar system as the Ivy League.

Nebraska ended the guise of academic prestige. Let's be honest, it would be in the lower half of the SEC.

UNL
71st arwu
96 US news
endowment 1.24 bill


ten: 104
scar: 111
LSU: 124
Kentucky: 129
Ole Miss: 143
Miss State: 151

UNL is an average SEC school in US news, their awru & endowment propel them into the top half of the sec

the b10 is not ivy league level but its still very prestigious to have even one non aau member. its still beneficial to the b10 to keep their AAU policy intact

JOOC, when did Nebraska join the SEC, john?

(11-05-2013 08:30 PM)bitcruncher Wrote:  

(11-05-2013 08:10 PM)john01992 Wrote:  

(11-05-2013 07:58 PM)HeartOfDixie Wrote:  

(11-05-2013 07:48 PM)john01992 Wrote:  

(11-05-2013 07:44 PM)HeartOfDixie Wrote:  The AAU requirement for the Big10 waived bye-bye.

not really. what made the b10 so unique and so prestigious academically was that they were one of just 2 conferences in all of college sports that had 100% aau membership.

the other was a d3 league called the university athletic conference (nicknamed the egghead eight & nerdy nine) which was founded about 25 years ago.

the b10 took a huge hit by having 1 none aau member, but that still puts them on par with the ivy league who only has 1 non aau member as well.

in other words. the academic integrity of the b10s percentage of AAU schools is still at stake & still VERY valuable.

The Big10 isn't even in the same solar system as the Ivy League.

Nebraska ended the guise of academic prestige. Let's be honest, it would be in the lower half of the SEC.

UNL
71st arwu
96 US news
endowment 1.24 bill


ten: 104
scar: 111
LSU: 124
Kentucky: 129
Ole Miss: 143
Miss State: 151

UNL is an average SEC school in US news, their awru & endowment propel them into the top half of the sec

the b10 is not ivy league level but its still very prestigious to have even one non aau member. its still beneficial to the b10 to keep their AAU policy intact

JOOC, when did Nebraska join the SEC, john?

you missed the part where i was dispelling the notion that academically UNL is in the bottom half of the SEC

(11-05-2013 08:36 PM)john01992 Wrote:  

(11-05-2013 08:30 PM)bitcruncher Wrote:  

(11-05-2013 08:10 PM)john01992 Wrote:  

(11-05-2013 07:58 PM)HeartOfDixie Wrote:  

(11-05-2013 07:48 PM)john01992 Wrote:  not really. what made the b10 so unique and so prestigious academically was that they were one of just 2 conferences in all of college sports that had 100% aau membership.

the other was a d3 league called the university athletic conference (nicknamed the egghead eight & nerdy nine) which was founded about 25 years ago.

the b10 took a huge hit by having 1 none aau member, but that still puts them on par with the ivy league who only has 1 non aau member as well.

in other words. the academic integrity of the b10s percentage of AAU schools is still at stake & still VERY valuable.

The Big10 isn't even in the same solar system as the Ivy League.

Nebraska ended the guise of academic prestige. Let's be honest, it would be in the lower half of the SEC.

UNL
71st arwu
96 US news
endowment 1.24 bill


ten: 104
scar: 111
LSU: 124
Kentucky: 129
Ole Miss: 143
Miss State: 151

UNL is an average SEC school in US news, their awru & endowment propel them into the top half of the sec

the b10 is not ivy league level but its still very prestigious to have even one non aau member. its still beneficial to the b10 to keep their AAU policy intact

JOOC, when did Nebraska join the SEC, john?

you missed the part where i was dispelling the notion that academically UNL is in the bottom half of the SEC

And you missed the icon that showed I was messing with you.

(11-05-2013 08:10 PM)john01992 Wrote:  

(11-05-2013 07:58 PM)HeartOfDixie Wrote:  

(11-05-2013 07:48 PM)john01992 Wrote:  

(11-05-2013 07:44 PM)HeartOfDixie Wrote:  The AAU requirement for the Big10 waived bye-bye.

not really. what made the b10 so unique and so prestigious academically was that they were one of just 2 conferences in all of college sports that had 100% aau membership.

the other was a d3 league called the university athletic conference (nicknamed the egghead eight & nerdy nine) which was founded about 25 years ago.

the b10 took a huge hit by having 1 none aau member, but that still puts them on par with the ivy league who only has 1 non aau member as well.

in other words. the academic integrity of the b10s percentage of AAU schools is still at stake & still VERY valuable.

The Big10 isn't even in the same solar system as the Ivy League.

Nebraska ended the guise of academic prestige. Let's be honest, it would be in the lower half of the SEC.

UNL
71st arwu
96 US news
endowment 1.24 bill


ten: 104
scar: 111
LSU: 124
Kentucky: 129
Ole Miss: 143
Miss State: 151

UNL is an average SEC school in US news, their awru & endowment propel them into the top half of the sec

the b10 is not ivy league level but its still very prestigious to have even one non aau member. its still beneficial to the b10 to keep their AAU policy intact

It would have been, but they didn't.

There are 6 schools in the SEC that are better schools than Nebraska.

That whole "we care about academic prestige" waved bye-bye when Nebraska got the nod.

They chose athletics, and that isn't exactly what they got.

Nobody cares about the ARWU, which is a giant system of guesses. Besides, don't you remember when they were totally discredited after it was found that using their methodology none of their results could be replicated?

(11-05-2013 08:38 PM)bitcruncher Wrote:  

(11-05-2013 08:36 PM)john01992 Wrote:  

(11-05-2013 08:30 PM)bitcruncher Wrote:  

(11-05-2013 08:10 PM)john01992 Wrote:  

(11-05-2013 07:58 PM)HeartOfDixie Wrote:  The Big10 isn't even in the same solar system as the Ivy League.

Nebraska ended the guise of academic prestige. Let's be honest, it would be in the lower half of the SEC.

UNL
71st arwu
96 US news
endowment 1.24 bill


ten: 104
scar: 111
LSU: 124
Kentucky: 129
Ole Miss: 143
Miss State: 151

UNL is an average SEC school in US news, their awru & endowment propel them into the top half of the sec

the b10 is not ivy league level but its still very prestigious to have even one non aau member. its still beneficial to the b10 to keep their AAU policy intact

JOOC, when did Nebraska join the SEC, john?

you missed the part where i was dispelling the notion that academically UNL is in the bottom half of the SEC

And you missed the icon that showed I was messing with you.

well played sir......

(11-05-2013 08:41 PM)HeartOfDixie Wrote:  

(11-05-2013 08:10 PM)john01992 Wrote:  

(11-05-2013 07:58 PM)HeartOfDixie Wrote:  

(11-05-2013 07:48 PM)john01992 Wrote:  

(11-05-2013 07:44 PM)HeartOfDixie Wrote:  The AAU requirement for the Big10 waived bye-bye.

not really. what made the b10 so unique and so prestigious academically was that they were one of just 2 conferences in all of college sports that had 100% aau membership.

the other was a d3 league called the university athletic conference (nicknamed the egghead eight & nerdy nine) which was founded about 25 years ago.

the b10 took a huge hit by having 1 none aau member, but that still puts them on par with the ivy league who only has 1 non aau member as well.

in other words. the academic integrity of the b10s percentage of AAU schools is still at stake & still VERY valuable.

The Big10 isn't even in the same solar system as the Ivy League.

Nebraska ended the guise of academic prestige. Let's be honest, it would be in the lower half of the SEC.

UNL
71st arwu
96 US news
endowment 1.24 bill


ten: 104
scar: 111
LSU: 124
Kentucky: 129
Ole Miss: 143
Miss State: 151

UNL is an average SEC school in US news, their awru & endowment propel them into the top half of the sec

the b10 is not ivy league level but its still very prestigious to have even one non aau member. its still beneficial to the b10 to keep their AAU policy intact

It would have been, but they didn't.

There are 6 schools in the SEC that are better schools than Nebraska.

That whole "we care about academic prestige" waved bye-bye when Nebraska got the nod.

They chose athletics, and that isn't exactly what they got.

Nobody cares about the ARWU, which is a giant system of guesses. Besides, don't you remember when they were totally discredited after it was found that using their methodology none of their results could be replicated?

Academics take ARWU a whole lot more seriously than USNWR.

(11-05-2013 09:31 PM)bullet Wrote:  

(11-05-2013 08:41 PM)HeartOfDixie Wrote:  

(11-05-2013 08:10 PM)john01992 Wrote:  

(11-05-2013 07:58 PM)HeartOfDixie Wrote:  

(11-05-2013 07:48 PM)john01992 Wrote:  not really. what made the b10 so unique and so prestigious academically was that they were one of just 2 conferences in all of college sports that had 100% aau membership.

the other was a d3 league called the university athletic conference (nicknamed the egghead eight & nerdy nine) which was founded about 25 years ago.

the b10 took a huge hit by having 1 none aau member, but that still puts them on par with the ivy league who only has 1 non aau member as well.

in other words. the academic integrity of the b10s percentage of AAU schools is still at stake & still VERY valuable.

The Big10 isn't even in the same solar system as the Ivy League.

Nebraska ended the guise of academic prestige. Let's be honest, it would be in the lower half of the SEC.

UNL
71st arwu
96 US news
endowment 1.24 bill


ten: 104
scar: 111
LSU: 124
Kentucky: 129
Ole Miss: 143
Miss State: 151

UNL is an average SEC school in US news, their awru & endowment propel them into the top half of the sec

the b10 is not ivy league level but its still very prestigious to have even one non aau member. its still beneficial to the b10 to keep their AAU policy intact

It would have been, but they didn't.

There are 6 schools in the SEC that are better schools than Nebraska.

That whole "we care about academic prestige" waved bye-bye when Nebraska got the nod.

They chose athletics, and that isn't exactly what they got.

Nobody cares about the ARWU, which is a giant system of guesses. Besides, don't you remember when they were totally discredited after it was found that using their methodology none of their results could be replicated?

Academics take ARWU a whole lot more seriously than USNWR.

my methodology is based almost entirely on ARWU and it is so accurate at explaining conference realignment moves that i call it money ball