\nOXFORD,
\nMiss. – The University of Mississippi Foundation has announced the
\ncreation of the Robert C. Khayat Legacy Fund, which will provide a
\nmeans for Ole Miss alumni, faculty, staff, students and friends to
\nhonor the outgoing chancellor. The fund will be used to help offset the
\nnegative effects of current economic conditions on Ole Miss students
\nand on the academic family.<\/p>\n
“Chancellor Khayat’s role as leader,
\ncaretaker, mentor, teacher, nurturer and friend has transformed our
\nuniversity’s campuses in so many positive ways,” said Wendell Weakley,
\nUM Foundation president. “Creating this fund is a very small token of
\nour appreciation and will allow him to direct such resources to areas
\nof greatest need at Ole Miss – truly consistent with his character and
\npractice as our chancellor.”<\/p>\n
Gifts to the Khayat Legacy Fund
\nwill be receipted into a special account at the Foundation. Khayat will
\nthen determine which university initiatives will benefit from the
\ndonations. Priorities include completion of a new law building, as well
\nas funding student scholarships and academic programs adversely
\nimpacted by the current economic climate.\n<\/p>\n
The university’s 15th chancellor, Khayat announced last month that he will retire June 30. During his 14-year tenure, Khayat garnered almost $800 million in private contributions, which allowed the university to achieve many wide-ranging goals. Among them are a steady increase in enrollment, including an increase in National Merit Scholars; the founding of a Phi Beta Kappa chapter; the selection of Ole Miss students for Rhodes, Marshall, Truman, Fulbright and Goldwater scholarships and a Grand Award from the Professional Grounds Management Society for the best maintained college campus in the nation.<\/p>\n
Additionally, many new programs and facilities have been established under Khayat’s leadership, including the Sally McDonnell Barksdale Honors College, Croft Institute for International Studies, Lott Leadership Institute, Galtney Center for Academic Computing, William Winter Institute for Racial Reconciliation, Gertrude C. Ford Center for the Performing Arts, Paris-Yates Chapel and Peddle Bell Tower, Indoor Practice Facility and FedEx Academic Center.<\/p>\n
Carolyn Ellis Staton, who retired as UM provost in 2008 and serves as special assistant to the chancellor, said that the many accomplishments at Ole Miss are a direct result of Khayat’s basic love of people.<\/p>\n
“He wants to make things better for people,” Staton said. “That first took shape in the way he took care of students, but it expanded to employees, faculty, alumni and friends. They genuinely felt he cares about them, and that set the stage for lots of people to be invested in his vision. I think that’s a real rarity in a leader.”<\/p>\n
Weakley said that in addition to honoring Khayat’s vision and leadership, those giving to the Khayat Legacy Fund will help Ole Miss maintain its current momentum.<\/p>\n
“Although economic conditions are harsh, the university continues to make great strides forward,” Weakley said. “In order to continue on our progressive path, we must overcome state budget cuts and the negative effect of the financial markets on our endowment. We are confident our alumni and friends will step up to help us do this.”<\/p>\n
Khayat said he is humbled to be able to direct funds to areas of need as one of his last acts as chancellor.<\/p>\n
“It has been a privilege to serve our university, and I am grateful for the support provided by our alumni, faculty, staff, students and friends,” Khayat said. “The Legacy Fund will be of great benefit and will help continue our efforts to strengthen Ole Miss.”<\/p>\n
For more information, contact Wendell Weakley at 662-915-5944. To donate to the Khayat Legacy Fund, send checks payable to the UM Foundation\/Legacy to P.O. Box 249, University, MS 38677. Gifts may also be made online at www.umfoundation.com\/legacy<\/a>\u00a0 or by calling 800-340-9542.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"