Texas Christian University’s College of Science & Engineering has received a $40 million gift, the largest investment in the college’s 25-year history, the university announced Wednesday.
The philanthropic investment came from Louise Dilworth Davis, an alumna and TCU parent. As TCU looks to grow its research operations, the money will go toward bolstering the College of Science and Engineering in the next decade.
“As an alum and mother of a Horned Frog who works as a scientist today, I want to ensure future generations of support for the university,” Davis said in a release. “Together, we are shaping an exciting future for TCU and enhancing research excellence for students, faculty and staff.”
The college will now be named the Louise Dilworth Davis College of Science & Engineering.
The Education Lab
Related
The announcement came a day ahead of TCU Chancellor Daniel Pullin’s inauguration Thursday, where he is expected to talk about his vision for the school’s next decade. Pullin, who stepped into the position earlier this year, has said he wants to make TCU the premier research institution in Fort Worth.
Related
The $40 million donation will help accelerate undergraduate and graduate research in areas such as engineering, computer science and pre-health pathways, according to the release.
Within the next decade, TCU aims to earn an R1 Carnegie classification — a designation given to the nation’s top research institutions. The coveted status, which requires an institution to spend at least $50 million on research and award 70 research doctorates annually, can help raise a school’s profile to attract more top-tier students and faculty. TCU is currently recognized as an R2 school.
Related
The College of Science & Engineering has 39 program offerings, including engineering, chemistry and ranch management. It is TCU’s second-largest college, teaching more than 2,300 undergraduate and 130 graduate students, according to the school’s website. More than 50% of those undergraduates are involved in research.
Davis, a fifth-generation Texan, graduated from TCU in 1977. Her son graduated from the university in 2014.
The DMN Education Lab deepens the coverage and conversation about urgent education issues critical to the future of North Texas.
The DMN Education Lab is a community-funded journalism initiative, with support from Bobby and Lottye Lyle, Communities Foundation of Texas, The Dallas Foundation, Dallas Regional Chamber, Deedie Rose, Garrett and Cecilia Boone, Judy and Jim Gibbs, The Meadows Foundation, The Murrell Foundation, Ron and Phyllis Steinhart, Solutions Journalism Network, Southern Methodist University, Sydney Smith Hicks, and the University of Texas at Dallas. The Dallas Morning News retains full editorial control of the Education Lab’s journalism.