The first phase of a $470 million University fundraising initiative reached completion last month, according to Susan Krinsky, associate vice-president of the campaign.Officially titled "The Campaign for Brandeis: Creating Connections," the effort raised $510 million, surpassing its $470 million goal, Krinsky said.

In light of its success, Krinsky said administrators have decided to extend the campaign for three more years in hopes of raising an additional $300 million.

Although the campaign's launch during a nationwide economic recession was "not the best time to get it off the ground," Krinsky said the effort has exceeded expectations.

The campaign was launched in July 2000 as an attempt to allocate additional funds for infrastructure projects and scholarship awards. Money raised through the initiative will help fund the construction of the Carl J. Shapiro Science Complex as well as a new residential complex to replace the Ridgewood Cottages.

A portion of the funds raised has also been set aside for financial aid purposes. "[One of the goals of] the first part of the campaign was to raise $100 million for [scholarships for] undergraduate students," Krinsky said. "I would say you're getting a direct impact on student financial aid."

She said the campaign's fundraising is accomplished in a number of ways, involving soliciting donations from both individuals from within the Brandeis community and those outside of the University. The campaign also received gifts from the Annual Fund, a separate fundraising source that provides resources to various University projects. Direct mailings addressing the campaign efforts are sent out regularly and have recently included a DVD narrated by several Brandeis faculty members encouraging alumni donations.

"Everything counts," Krinsky said. "When you're campaigning, all the aspects of your fundraising work together."

"[The campaign is] aggressive,"Senior Vice-President of Communications Lorna Miles said. "It's ambitious. It's going to sustain our position as a world-class university, and we really need to do this to attract the faculty and students that we have."

Krinsky also spoke of the campaign's role in ensuring that Brandeis remains a high-ranking academic research institution. She said the administration plans to upgrade classrooms across campus and to secure endowments for various department chairs.

"Having endowed chairs allows us to attract excellent faculty," she said.