The St. Thomas Opening Doors Campaign is a little less than $50 million away from reaching its goal of raising $500 million by fall 2012.

“We are at about $451 million right now, so that means that we have a pretty good chunk of money yet to raise here before the end of the campaign,” said Mark Dienhart, executive vice president and chief operating officer. “If we are able to do that, then this will be the largest and most successful capital campaign that any private college or university in the state of Minnesota has ever been able to run and complete.”

The Opening Doors Campaign was announced in 2007 with the purpose of raising capital for major improvements to the university’s programs, resources and infrastructure. Some of the campaign’s priorities include endowment funds for financial aid, program enhancements, improvements to physical facilities and other resources that help develop the overall quality of student experience.

“I’m really glad that the campaign is focused on creating better resources and facility upgrades for students,” junior Steven Grand said. “Even if most of the campaign won’t impact students until after I graduate, it’s still good to know that this campus is growing and improving.”

Dienhart said that despite the unexpected economic downfall, he feels good about being able to reach the goal on time.

“If we don’t make it, we will celebrate whatever we do reach, however, it would be unlike us at St. Thomas to not reach a goal that we have set on a campaign like this,” Dienhart said. “There are a lot of people working really hard and are committed to making sure that we do reach this goal.”

The campaign’s biggest priority is to support financial aid, which has a goal of attaining $130 million. The money would go toward several types of student financial support such as need-based awards, merit-based aid and scholarships. So far $100 million has been committed to this priority.

“I would really like to see more funding going into scholarships. Students always need scholarships and it will really help with our financial needs,” junior Derek Person said.

Dienhart mentioned that immediate evidence of the campaign’s success includes the new student center and the athletic building. He went on to say that most of the positive effects of the campaign will be spread out over a long period of time and won’t become reality until the distant future.

“You won’t see the impact of it at any one given point, the tide slowly comes in and hopefully the boat will float a little higher because of it,” he said.

Dienhart hopes students won’t sail away after graduation.

“This is the sort of thing that happens once every generation of students, and I’m glad the students who have been here have seen and enjoyed at least some of what’s going on,” Dienhart said. “My hope is that they will come back to alumni events to enjoy the other improvements we make as we realize the benefits of the campaign.

Senior Lucia Hark said she would like to keep in touch with St. Thomas even after she graduates.

“It will always be good for me to say that I graduated from St. Thomas, especially if they are improving and always looking for ways to enhance the school,” she said.

Anna Tu can be reached at tu978399@stthomas.edu.