On the following pages, we proudly list the names of every donor who contributed to The Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science in 1997-1998. I am deeply grateful to all of you who have become leaders in the life of the School through your gifts to the Engineering Annual Fund or to the Campaign for Columbia.    

For the first time in the history of the School, The Engineering Annual Fund has broken the $1 million mark. Our unprecedented success is due to each of the 3,500 alumni, friends, foundations and corporations who made gifts to the School in Fiscal Year 1997-1998. Our closing figure of $1,105,989 represents an increase of 28% over last year's record. Total giving to the School for FY98 was over $30 million, which includes the naming gift of $25 million from the Fu Foundation, and is more than double the previous record high.    

Because this is the fourth year in a row that the School has achieved a new record in giving, it is clear that alumni are making the success of the School a personal priority. Through your efforts, the value of The Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science degree is being enhanced.    

While we have an enviable record of increasing total giving, there is one factor that few realize impacts greatly on our national rankings as an engineering school, and that is participation. Publications that rank engineering schools compare the number of alumni who give to the total number of living alumni. That percentage forms the basis of what they call "alumni satisfaction," and can count for up to 5% of the total ranking. I do not believe that this is a fair way to measure satisfaction, but I recognize we must increase our percentage of alumni participation to remain competitive with other schools.    

In the coming years, we have an opportunity to enhance our position among institutions at the forefront of engineering education. To take advantage of this opportunity, we will require greater philanthropic support. We hope increased participation from our alumni--at any giving level--will echo the value of a Columbia Engineering education.    

As Dean of the School of Engineering, I want personally to thank each of you for investing in the School. Your contributions have a very real and significant impact on the students, both present and future, the faculty, and the School at large.

            Zvi Galil

            Dean

Giving Levels Dean's List: $10,000 and above Patron: $5,000 - $9,999 Fellow: $2,000 - $4,999 Associate: $1,000 - $1,999 Friend: $250 - $999 Donor: $1 - $249