“After running for 99 days, the #SU99 campaign exceeded expectations, said Karen Bruns, Senior Director of Development & Alumni (DAR) at SU. “Thanks to the generous contributions, we have surpassed our target and made it to R1 million.”
This initiative, driven by the Development and Alumni Relations (DAR) Division, was launched on 20 September 2017 to raise awareness of SU’s Centennial Year in 2018 and to help alleviate student debt. The initial target was R99 999 but as the campaign began to gain momentum, the bar was raised to R999 999.
Prof Wim de Villiers, Rector and Vice-Chancellor of SU, made a significant contribution to the campaign in his personal capacity. “The #SU99 campaign is a beautiful example of the power of our donors joining hands to support a worthy cause,” says Prof de Villiers. “From the staff and students on campus who added a donation to the collection boxes around campus, to alumni who contributed through online giving, to major donors who once again extended their support – the mission of Stellenbosch University is bolstered by our friends and partners.”
Cheryl Benadie, Donor Relations Manager at DAR, explains the rationale behind the focus on alleviating student debt. “Our first-generation students graduate to become first-generation professionals. The burden of debt on these individuals who have limited social and economic support can seem insurmountable.
“Think about what it took to get you started in your professional life. You needed to get a car, a place to stay (often in a new city or town) and adjust to the new expenses that come with adulthood. Add to that the reality of student debt – and there is a shadow cast on a graduate’s bright future,” she says.
According to Ms Bruns: “While the University does all it can to help support missing middle and first-generation students, each student is ultimately responsible for any outstanding student debt. In some cases, a student will have received multiple bursaries during their academic career, but not all funding support covers the full cost of a tertiary programme. And this is where this campaign came in, helping our graduates step into the next stage of their lives with confidence.”