November 2004

By Andrea Martino

Donald Orkand (center) with Sal Monaco (left), vice provost and dean of the Graduate School of Management and Technology, and UMUC President Gerald Heeger (right).

If you had to describe UMUC in two words or less, words like access and quality would likely come to mind. UMUC’s impressive rankings in Black Issues in Higher Education and the Washington Business Journal are certainly strong indicators of both. And, time and again, students and alumni tell how much they appreciate the convenience of UMUC’s services, which allow busy adults to pursue a college education while balancing other responsibilities, and which open doors to promotions and new career paths.

Not coincidentally, access and quality at UMUC are the impetus for a $2 million gift to the University—the largest ever by an individual donor—that will enable UMUC to undertake two exciting new academic initiatives. Donald Orkand, chair of UMUC’s Board of Visitors, has given the University $2 million to fund undergraduate scholarships and an endowed chair in the Graduate School of Management and Technology.

UMUC President Gerald Heeger said that he is particularly pleased by the gift because it is a strong endorsement of the work that everyone at UMUC does to provide a quality education to students.

“Don [Orkand] exemplifies so many UMUC students’ aspirations,” said Heeger. “He is a successful entrepreneur and CEO, innovator, community leader, philanthropist, and role model. I am deeply grateful to Don for his extraordinary act of generosity and appreciate very much that we can benefit from his board leadership at UMUC as well.”

Orkand’s gift was announced at the graduate faculty meeting in Adelphi, Maryland, on September 18, 2004.

“American public higher education is undergoing a fundamental change,” said Orkand. “Many of the basic underpinnings of the traditional model in academia are collapsing, as reflected in the diminished support by state government. Universities must take control of their own fate as never before.

“Today’s donors don’t give to good causes,” Orkand continued, addressing UMUC faculty. “They give to good results. It is the faculty and leadership at UMUC that make that happen. You are engaged in an important mission that affects this generation and generations to come. Growth will enable UMUC to invest in people, technology, and academic programs. UMUC is at the forefront of these changes in higher education, and through this gift I hope that other donors will recognize these accomplishments and contribute to UMUC as well.”

Access is fundamental to UMUC’s mission, and that means increasing the number of scholarships available to undergraduate students. Monies from the new gift will establish the undergraduate Orkand Scholars program so that students in financial need, who have completed a minimum of 60 credits, may qualify to receive scholarships. Recipients will be selected on the basis of academic excellence and potential for further study. The selection of recipients is expected to begin next summer for awards in fall 2005.

“It is critical that students in financial need, who have exhibited the ability and the desire to succeed, be provided the financial support to complete their degree programs,” said Orkand of future undergraduate Orkand Scholars. “These students will have already achieved success in getting so far in their pursuit of a college degree. But no one ever said you have to do it alone, and UMUC students, most of whom are full-time working adults, require a comprehensive support network of family and friends. I am pleased to be an ancillary part of that network.”

Funds at the graduate level will establish the Orkand Endowed Chair in Management and Technology. The holder of this chair will provide visibility to the UMUC Graduate School of Management and Technology through his or her academic or professional achievements, and will work with fellow graduate faculty in integrating cutting-edge management theories and trends into curricula. Among other qualifications, the faculty member selected will be nationally recognized in the fields of management and technology, have broad-based knowledge in management and technology with the ability to serve across the majority of UMUC graduate curricula, have a record of working successfully with a variety of constituencies, and have the ability to collaborate with and/or mentor faculty colleagues at UMUC.

A national search for this faculty member will begin next spring.

At the September 18 meeting, Orkand commended graduate faculty for their success in producing graduate programs that are exemplary nationwide in serving part-time graduate students.

“It is important that UMUC graduate faculty benefit from the efforts and mentorship of an endowed chair, particularly when UMUC programs are experiencing such an enrollment surge,” said Orkand. “I also feel that it was appropriate to provide the funds now, when the graduate school is celebrating its 25th anniversary, as a way of recognizing the accomplishments of all those who had a part in launching such a remarkable program.”

Orkand has served on the UMUC board since 2001 and in 2002 established the first Orkand Fellows for UMUC’s Doctor of Management (DM) program. The DM is the first doctoral program of its kind in Maryland and one of only a few DM programs nationwide.

Funds awarded annually for UMUC’s undergraduate and graduate schools will come from the returns earned on the $2 million endowment.