Campus Campaign Sets New Record in Participation and Giving

Campus Campaign Ambassadors
糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock鈥檚 2025 Campus Campaign Ambassadors pose for a photo at the Bailey Alumni Center. Photo by Justin Bates

糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock鈥檚 2025 Campus Campaign concluded with record participation and giving, exceeding its goal and reflecting strong engagement from faculty and staff across campus.

The campaign closed with 44.43% participation, surpassing the established goal of 37% and marking the highest participation rate in more than five years. A total of 510 faculty and staff members contributed $221,374.42 in support of scholarships, academic programs, and other institutional priorities.

鈥淔aculty and staff give because they believe in the work happening here and in the students who benefit from it,鈥 said Dr. Shelia Brooks, campus campaign chair. 鈥淲e see the university鈥檚 impact every day, and giving back is one way we can support that work and invest in our students鈥 success.鈥

Over the past three years, the Campus Campaign has seen steady year-over-year growth in both faculty and staff participation and overall giving, culminating in a record-setting year in 2025.

Nine departments achieved 100% participation during the campaign:

  • Alumni and Development
  • Chancellor鈥檚 Office
  • Counseling Services
  • Disability Resource Center
  • Health Services
  • STEM
  • Emerging Analytics Center
  • the Jody Mahony Center for Gifted Education
  • Marketing and Communications

A key factor in this year鈥檚 success was the faculty-led nature of the campaign. As campus campaign chair, Dr. Brooks took an active, visible role by visiting departments and speaking directly with colleagues about why faculty and staff giving matters.

鈥淒r. Brooks鈥 leadership resonated across campus,鈥 said Christian O鈥橬eal, vice chancellor for advancement. 鈥淗er perspective as a faculty member helped reinforce the value of participation and encouraged broader engagement.鈥

The campaign also benefited from a more intentional approach to engagement. This year鈥檚 Kick-Off Breakfast included role-play scenarios and a question-and-answer session designed to help participants feel more at ease talking with colleagues about giving. A dedicated lunch for campaign ambassadors provided additional opportunities for connection and collaboration across departments.

The campaign鈥檚 results reflect growing engagement across campus and set the stage for continued momentum in the year ahead.