Department Raises Money to Assist Students

STUDENTS FIRST is a campuswide campaign to raise more than $15 million over two years to help UC Davis students finance their education and face the future with confidence. Funds will create undergraduate scholarships, graduate fellowships and programs to enrich the student's experience.

Animal Science is the only UC Davis academic department that has been approved to conduct its own component of the STUDENTS FIRST fund-raising campaign. The challenge is to enhance gift-giving because of the closeness of alumni and friends to the department with which they have been associated either as students or by way of professional ties.

Students in Animal Science are faced with increasing fees, heavy debt burdens and the need to work while studying. In addition, the diversity of career opportunities for Animal Science students requires special programs so they can explore and gain practical experience and shorten their time to reach graduation. These include various work opportunities, joint majors, research projects and advanced degrees to fulfill their educational experience. The department's goal is for STUDENTS FIRST to raise $1 million to support these students in several ways.

The first is the Robert Laben Undergraduate Fund, which will provide undergraduate scholarships, financial aid and student-related programs such as undergraduate research projects or work experience. The second goal is to provide graduate student fellowships, research assistantships and research support to be conducted under the supervision and mentorship of faculty or other academic staff.

Supporting research through students at both the undergraduate and graduate levels does two things by yielding not only an educated graduate but also new information from research benefiting those who are interested in animal care and well-being. These funds will be invested as a part of an endowment, with only the earned interest awarded each year. This ensures longterm, stable funding for future generations of Animal Science students.

Finally, named endowment gifts of $10,000 for undergraduates or $20,000 for graduates may be established in the name of the donor or his or her designee.