UB gives generously to SEFA: Involvement with community, commitment keys to campaign success

A caring university community has contributed more than half a million dollars to date to support those in need throughout the Western New York community.

And while the 1998 SEFA/United Way campaign has passed its conclusion date, it's not too late to make a contribution to the drive.

UB has a tradition of giving, and giving generously. As of Nov. 2, UB had reached 88.6 percent of its 1998 goal of $653,600, with a number of units-the School of Architecture and Planning, the School of Information and Library Studies, the School of Management, the School of Social Work, UB Foundation, Student Affairs, the Office of the Vice President for Research, and University Advancement and Development-exceeding their goals.

What are the ingredients that go into conducting a successful SEFA campaign?

A tradition of involvement in the community is key, says Ruth Bryant, assistant dean for personnel and development in the School of Architecture and Planning and its SEFA liaison.

"A lot of our faculty get involved in community activities, so it's not a hard sell (to make the school's annual SEFA goal) because they're already involved," she says.

Bryant notes that the school's architecture and design studios regularly take on community projects, "so they tend to have a better grasp (of community need) perhaps, than other disciplines because of the very nature of what we do."

Calling SEFA "an important initiative of the university," Bryant adds that the school also works to instill that sense of commitment to the community in its students, encouraging them to take part in projects that benefit others.

For example, each summer Dick Yencer, director of the school's shop facilities, heads student crews who build two homes, from the ground up, for Habitat for Humanity.

"When you start thatŠearly on, in terms of giving something back, it becomes part of the culture," Bryant says.

Commitment to the community should be an important part of the culture of a unit, agrees John Shellum, assistant dean of the School of Management, who serves as its SEFA liaison. And a commitment to the annual SEFA/United Way campaign definitely "is part of the culture of the School of Management," Shellum says. Each year, a segment of the school's fall faculty meeting is set aside to distribute SEFA envelopes and to discuss the campaign. Those attending are asked to make their decision about giving that day. Roughly 75-80 percent turn in their forms at the meeting.

Persistence also pays off. Management faculty and staff who do not turn in their SEFA card at the meeting receive a personal letter from Shellum reminding them of the community need and encouraging them to contribute. When necessary, Shellum resorts to legwork. "I keep chasing people. My goal is to make sure everyone turns in a form. It is their decision whether to give or how much to give," but it is mandatory that they turn in a form, he says. This commitment to supporting the SEFA campaign has been part of the culture of the School of Management for about 10 years, according to Shellum.

"We are a university leader, and we're proud of this," he says.

He adds: "There are a whole host of people who need our help. We, as a university, will at times be asking the community to support us, too, so we need to show that we support them."