Generous gift is largest in university’s history
San Diego, Calif. – July 30, 2014 – National University, California’s second-largest private, nonprofit university, announced today an anonymous $9.22 million gift for the Sanford Education Center, which is being created to affect positive change in our society through programs that support the development of nonprofit leaders, teachers and others dedicated to the public good. The donation is the largest ever received by the University, and will cover construction costs and the development of innovative programs offered through the Center’s Sanford Cause Leadership Program and Sanford Education Programs.
The Sanford Education Center at National University was established in January 2014 with a $1 million inaugural gift. The Center, based in La Jolla, Calif., is expected to open in fall 2014.
“The Sanford Education Center is dedicated to positive change in our communities through the development and support of dynamic nonprofit leaders and inspirational teachers, and others dedicated to the public good,” said National University President and Chancellor Dr. Michael R. Cunningham. “This transformational gift will leave a legacy for many generations to come through impactful programs that meet 21st Century global needs, enabling us to change the world, one graduate at a time.”
As part of the Sanford Education Center, the Sanford Cause Leadership Program will train existing and future nonprofit leaders in state-of-the-art relationship building and fundraising techniques through stackable workshops, certificates and master’s programs in nonprofit leadership. The Program is estimated to serve more than 4,300 members of the nonprofit community over the next five years.
The Sanford Education Programs incorporate best practices in teacher engagement with an emphasis on student success through inspiring and innovative classroom strategies at the Pre-K through 12th grade level. They include two related programs: the Sanford Inspire Program and the Sanford Harmony Program. The Sanford Inspire Program, designed for integration into teacher education programs, provides teachers with proven pedagogical tools and strategies to create an interactive, inspiring environment that encourages student learning at all grade levels through 12th grade. Complementing the focus on teacher education, the Sanford Harmony Program empowers teachers to foster healthier relationships between girls and boys in the classroom, resulting in an improved learning experience, stronger academic performance, an improved attitude toward school, and reduced classroom aggression. Aimed at the Pre-K through 6th grade level, the Program reinforces positive interactions among children with the long-term goal of fostering harmonious adult relationships. The Program is based on the foundational approaches of encouraging compatibility, contact, cooperation and communication.
National University’s Sanford Education Programs are estimated to serve more than 50,000 teachers, and as a result, impact more than 650,000 Pre-K through 12th grade students by their fifth year of operation.
“The innovative programs offered through the Sanford Education Center provide ongoing learning opportunities so that teachers of all levels of experience have the most current strategies and tools to ensure student success,” said National University Provost Debra Bean. “As the largest conferrer of Masters of Education degrees among all California universities, we are excited to play a key role in expanding the reach of these programs.”
About National University
Founded in 1971, National University is the second-largest private, nonprofit institution of higher education in California. With 30,000 students and more than 230,000 alumni, National University is the flagship institution of the National University System. National University is dedicated to making lifelong learning opportunities accessible, challenging, and relevant to a diverse population of students. Five schools and one college – the College of Letters and Sciences; the School of Business and Management; the School of Education; the School of Engineering and Computing; the School of Health and Human Services; and the School of Professional Studies – offer more than 100 graduate and undergraduate degrees and 23 teacher credentials. Programs are offered at more than 45 locations throughout California and across the nation, and are also available online. National University is headquartered in La Jolla, California.
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