Faculty

The University of Delaware has made a concerted effort during the last decade to improve the learning environment on campus, and an important part of this work has been directed at increased support for faculty.

Increased support has come in the form of improved classroom facilities, acquisition of leading-edge instructional technology and endowments to recruit and retain the finest instructors and researchers.

Today, there are nearly 70 named professorships and chairs. The minimum endowment is $350,000, according to University President David P. Roselle. In 1990, there were fewer than 10.

An increase in the number of endowed professorships and chairs is a major goal of the Campaign for Delaware, and Roselle says he hopes to have secured 100 or more such positions by the close of the fund-raising drive in October 2003.

The current market value of the endowments for the new professorships has passed $30 million, Roselle says.

Supporting professors, UD's total external funds expenditures for instruction, research, extension and public service in 1990-91 stood at $47.8 million. That total rose to $94.2 million in 1999-2000 and reached $107 million in 2000-2001.

In addition, the estimated value of the equipment inventory rose from $114.4 million in 1990 to $206.9 million, as of June 30, 2000.

The University has worked to bolster academic resources by holding administrative costs in check and investing the money saved in academics, according to Executive Vice President David E. Hollowell.

Through the decade, the administrative budget grew at slighly more than 2 percent per year, compared with more than 6 percent per year for the academic budget.

As UD moves forward in the 21st century as a national leader in higher education, Howard E. Cosgrove, chairman of the UD Board of Trustees, says, the "faculty and staff are motivated with appropriate compensation and provided with the working environment and support facilities necessary to perform their tasks."