Messenger - Vol. 1, No. 2, Page 2
Winter 1992
Break out the shades . . . University's future looking bright

     Greetings and best wishes from the University of Delaware as we
begin the new semester, following a Winter Session that set new
enrollment records. I wrote many of you late last year, seeking your
support for the University, and I told you that Delaware had had an
exceptional year, marked by selection of a Rhodes Scholar, numerous
faculty honors, a major art exhibition, building dedications and
ground breakings, winning seasons and record levels of both giving and
of research support. Current economic conditions still cause concern
and require difficult management decisions, but I must tell you that
the new year is shaping up to be an even better one than last year for
the University of Delaware.
     Let me share just a few recent indicators of success with you:

     * Gifts to the University are up over this time last year. As of
Jan. 31, gifts totaling $13.1 million had been received, an increase
of nearly $3 million over the same period last year. The rise is due
largely to strong corporate and foundation support for University
capital campaigns.

     * The fall phonathon raised $122,000 in gifts and pledges for a
record high total, and the spring phonathon will begin in the next few
weeks. At the same time, corporate giving has increased by more than
25 percent for a total of $2.95 million, and gifts from foundations
rose 18 percent to $5.94 million. The number of individual donors also
increased, and several alumni have created special trusts that will be
of major benefit to their alma mater.

     * Four University of Delaware research initiatives have attracted
major support from the federal government--some $7.8 million over the
next five years from the Department of Defense, under the University
Research Initiative (URI) Program. Delaware joins an elite group of
institutions nationwide to receive major grants under the program.
Only five institutions received as many as three grants under the URI
Program: the California Institute of Technology, the Massachusetts
Institute of Technology, Pennsylvania State University, Stanford
University and the University of Delaware.

     * The RISE (Resources to Insure Successful Engineers) Program at
the University is one of 15 recipients nationwide of a 1991 GTE FOCUS
grant of $30,000, which will be used to fund a new undergraduate
research initiative for minority engineering students. The RISE
Program at Delaware has been enormously successful, and this year's
enrollment of 133 minority students constitutes approximately 14.5
percent of the college's undergraduate population.

     * "Dynamics of Human Anatomy," an interactive videodisc program
developed at the University, recently won the Gold Medal in the New
York Film Festival's international competition for non-broadcast film
and video. The program is designed to teach allied health students
functional and structural anatomy using dissection of cadavers and
extensive computer interaction.

     * Beginning this spring, the University will sponsor a series of
public forums aimed at giving campus community members a close look at
the ideas surrounding controversial and contemporary issues in
America. Known as Delaware Dialogues, the ongoing series will feature
scholars with opposing viewpoints, to be followed by a panel of
University experts serving as respondents.

     * The men's basketball team has been setting records with its
recent 10th straight win over North Atlantic Conference foe Drexel
University. With the win, the Blue Hens set or tied five school
records for success.

     This gives you a sampling of what's been happening in recent
weeks, and you'll read in more detail on these and other success
stories in the next issue of The Messenger.
     Your support of our University is a critical part of any success
story on the campus. I hope you will join the many friends and alumni
who make gifts of significance to the University of Delaware, for our
institution's programs and people derive great benefit from your
counsel, your gifts and your employment of our graduates. A grateful
University of Delaware says thank you.



                                                  David P. Roselle
                                                  President