University of South Dakota Launches $250 Million Fundraising Campaign

VERMILLION, S.D. (AP) — The University of South Dakota is embarking on a fundraising campaign that it hopes can bring in $250 million in private donations to fund scholarships and revamp campus facilities.

The University says "Onward: The Campaign for South Dakota," aims to raise the most money in school history.

Tena Haraldson is director for marketing at the Vermillion school. Haraldson says as state funding has not kept up with raising costs in higher education that private donations have become increasingly important.

The university says three former faculty members have already established endowments totaling several million dollars.

The money brought in will go toward scholarships, professorships, educational opportunities and improvements to facilities.

The school has already broke ground on a new sports complex and plans to expand its National Music Museum.

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