The School of Humanities strives to integrate the values of the university with the vision of its private donors. However, there are times when proposed gifts are not consonant with these values and the school and donors must part ways. Recently, the School of Humanities, in support of a recommendation by its Ad-Hoc Committee on Endowed Chairs, elected to return two gifts from the Dharma Civilization Foundation. The gifts, totaling $3 million, would have established the Thakkar...
Family-Dharma Civilization Foundation Presidential Chair in Indic and Vedic Civilization Studies and the Swami Vivekananda-Dharma Civilization Foundation Presidential Chair in Modern India Studies. Though the gifts were initially approved by University Advancement and the Academic Senate, they were subsequently reviewed by the ad-hoc committee established by the Humanities Executive Council, which recommended the gifts be returned.
In its report, dated February 18, 2016, the committee cited the following as the predominant reasoning for its recommendation to return the endowed chair gifts from the Dharma Civilization Foundation: “We find that association with the Dharma Civilization Foundation, the intents and views of which have been set down in public statements, is inconsistent with UCI’s core values as a public university that fosters diversity, inclusion, toleration, and respect. Further, any association with the DCF in name or funding would place restrictions on potential applicant pools in ways that run counter to academic freedom, shared governance, and faculty expertise.” Chancellor Gillman has expressed his support for the decision and University Advancement has processed the refund. Also reviewed by the committee are two endowed chair gifts received from private community groups to establish Shri Parshvanath Presidential Chair in Jain Studies and the Dhan Kaur Sahota Presidential Chair in Sikh Studies.
I am currently working with these donors, University Advancement, School of Humanities faculty and the Humanities Executive Council to ensure that the endowed chair proposals are consistent with university policy and that all School of Humanities stakeholders are actively involved in the process.
Our ultimate goal with fundraising is to leverage community support to further the core mission of the university and the School of Humanities. Over the past three years that I have been dean, we have established meaningful and valuable relationships with private donors, foundations and community groups that can enable us to support our world-class faculty in meeting their highest aspirations in teaching, research and outreach; and to provide our students, both graduate and undergraduate, with the financial support and intellectual mentorship they need to thrive. Looking to the future, I intend to enhance our partnerships with the campus community in order to find ways to develop an infrastructure that continues to support the extraordinary scholarship of our faculty and students.
Georges Van Den Abbeele
Dean, School of Humanities,
UC Irvine, Irvine
In its report, dated February 18, 2016, the committee cited the following as the predominant reasoning for its recommendation to return the endowed chair gifts from the Dharma Civilization Foundation: “We find that association with the Dharma Civilization Foundation, the intents and views of which have been set down in public statements, is inconsistent with UCI’s core values as a public university that fosters diversity, inclusion, toleration, and respect. Further, any association with the DCF in name or funding would place restrictions on potential applicant pools in ways that run counter to academic freedom, shared governance, and faculty expertise.” Chancellor Gillman has expressed his support for the decision and University Advancement has processed the refund. Also reviewed by the committee are two endowed chair gifts received from private community groups to establish Shri Parshvanath Presidential Chair in Jain Studies and the Dhan Kaur Sahota Presidential Chair in Sikh Studies.
I am currently working with these donors, University Advancement, School of Humanities faculty and the Humanities Executive Council to ensure that the endowed chair proposals are consistent with university policy and that all School of Humanities stakeholders are actively involved in the process.
Our ultimate goal with fundraising is to leverage community support to further the core mission of the university and the School of Humanities. Over the past three years that I have been dean, we have established meaningful and valuable relationships with private donors, foundations and community groups that can enable us to support our world-class faculty in meeting their highest aspirations in teaching, research and outreach; and to provide our students, both graduate and undergraduate, with the financial support and intellectual mentorship they need to thrive. Looking to the future, I intend to enhance our partnerships with the campus community in order to find ways to develop an infrastructure that continues to support the extraordinary scholarship of our faculty and students.
Georges Van Den Abbeele
Dean, School of Humanities,
UC Irvine, Irvine
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