U of A Faculty of Law receives unprecedented $2.5 million donation
Written By: Suzanne Harris
2005-12-12
Christmas has come early for the University of Alberta Faculty of Law, which recently received a gift of $2.5 million from a private donor - the largest single donation ever made by an alumnus to the faculty.The gift, from law alumnus Frank MacInnis and his wife Beverly, is intended to support renovations of the first floor of the 33-year-old Law Building. MacInnis, who graduated from the U of A in 1971, is currently chairman and CEO of EMCOR Group Inc., a Fortune 500 company and one of the world's largest electrical and mechanical constructors.
"In my career I've had a chance to work with graduates of the finest universities in the world," said MacInnis. "And the quality and depth of the education provided by the University of Alberta is the equal of anyone's. It is a major factor in the success that I have achieved, and it will be a major factor in the success of future U of A graduates."
A Camrose native, MacInnis believes that one of the most important benefits of attending law school is the close interaction among students, which translate into collegial and professional relationships later in life. The $2.5 million donation, he said, is intended to create added classroom space, preventing the need for law classes to be dispersed elsewhere on campus.
"Our hope is that it will enable future generations of law school students to stay together, to learn from one another, to experience what it means to be a member of a professional faculty and to benefit from that," said MacInnis.
"I'm not interested in having my name up in lights someplace. My wife and I are very interested in knowing that the money is being put to urgent and practical use. And that is why we are so pleased with the emphasis on additional classroom space and facilities that is the centerpiece of our gift."
The renovation, planned for 2006, will include two additional classrooms with up-to-date technological capabilities, and the addition of student study space and faculty offices. The renovation is one of four priorities identified for Law Campaign 2008. The other priorities are research, student scholarships and additional faculty positions to teach emerging areas of law, such as international trade and business, energy law and policies, and intellectual property. The goal of the Faculty of Law is to raise $10 million for these initiatives by 2008.
According to David Percy, dean of the Faculty of Law, MacInnis' donation is an example of the sense of loyalty that law alumni show the faculty.
"It's absolutely terrific, yet it comes with an enormous sense of responsibility. Our graduates have a lot of faith in us, and it's up to us to justify that faith."
Original: ExpressNews