University of Cincinnati’s regional campuses receive anonymous gift

Blue Ash College and Clermont College, regional campuses of the University of Cincinnati, have received an anonymous $5 million gift that will provide far-reaching benefits to students and faculty at each college. The total amount of funding this anonymous donor has provided to the University of Cincinnati since 2018 is $7.26 million.

According to an article on the University of Cincinnati’s website, university president Neville G. Pinto was quoted as saying of the gift, “This incredible act of generosity provides foundational support to our students and their future. We are truly appreciative of this visionary gift, which creates fundamental opportunities for our regional colleges to expand real-world learning and job coaching while also investing in research and innovation.”

The gift has been divided into separate initiatives, with different amounts going to Blue Ash College and Clermont College.

In order to expand experiential learning opportunities for students, the gift will fund paid internships and co-ops at both colleges. At Blue Ash College, the gift will create and endow the UC Blue Ash Career Services Endowment Fund with $500,000. This will increase the ability of the career services department to help students with job search assistance and resume building, and allow it to host workshops on campus. At Clermont College, the gift will endow the Cronin Career Scholars Fund, which was the college’s first paid internship program. The gift will create permanent funding.

Clermont College Dean Jeffrey Bauer said, “Students will benefit tremendously from the generosity of this gift and its elevation of career services. Because many students rely on income from part-time jobs, they are often unable to participate in unpaid internships. These funds will eliminate the need for part-time jobs by elevating both programs with paid internships and co-ops.”

The rest of the funding will support scholarships at both colleges and faculty research at Clermont College. The gift will support the new UC Clermont Leadership Endowment Fund which provides funding for students who serve in a leadership position on campus. The Sophia Endowed Fund for Innovation at Blue Ash College will receive funding for stipends and other discretionary funds. Additionally, the gift will establish the Sophia Endowed Scholarship Fund for Blue Ash College students who are experiencing financial need.

Robin Lightner, PhD, the Dean of UC Blue Ash, said of the gift, “Career services and scholarship assistance are vital to student success at UC Blue Ash. This remarkable gift will open many more doors for students at our college, to allow them to get a degree with less financial burden and graduate ready to start their career.”

For more information about Blue Ash College, visit the school’s website.

For more information about Clermont College, visit the school’s website.