An anonymous donor gifted $5 million to UCA’s interior design program to endow faculty positions and monetarily aid students with learning opportunities.
According to a UCA news release sent out March 26, the $5 million donation will be split into two parts — $4 million for at least four professorships and $1 million for student internships and learning opportunities.
Fredricka Sharkey, director of media relations, said the donor decided to split the donation. Sharkey said the interior design program will implement the donation in fall 2024.
Jennifer Whitehead, program director for interior design, said the interior design department hasn’t met with admin to talk about the fine details of the donation, but she hopes it will help students pay for conferences and National Council of Interior Design Qualifications (NCIDQ) exam fees.
“All together that exam is around $1,200. That’s not even including study materials,” she said.
“So that’s what I’m hoping that we’ll do is help the students be able to get involved in more internship opportunities, build on lifelong learning and continuing education credit conferences.”
Whitehead said most of the interior design students are in the UCA chapter of the American Society of Interior Designers, and the donation could help with dues.
Senior Kaylee Hopper, president of UCA’s ASID, said she hopes the donation will help students who are struggling financially.
“I have been working to get students more involved in the design community and this donation has, crazy enough, made all my years of service to the department feel well worth it,” Hopper said.
“I have worked to encourage students to get more involved with the design industry and a big issue we have seen for our students is no longer interest in participating, which was the issue during COVID when I joined ASID.
“But financial challenges have required students to have to work many jobs as a student — common for artists — in conjunction with not having enough money to pay for travel and participation.
“My hope with this grant is that it will only build on the work that I and many of the Interior design faculty have started and allow students to facilitate, enjoy, and make use of the opportunities given to them,” she said.
Avery Shell, a sophomore majoring in interior design, said news of the donation made her feel “excitement, gratitude and enthusiasm.”
“$5 million will benefit the program for years to come,” Shell said.
“It can open up new opportunities for students and allow them to pursue their goals with greater freedom. Speaking for the whole interior design community here at UCA, we thank the donor for their kindness,” Shell said.
“We are incredibly thankful for this donation, and I am thrilled to see its impact on this organization,” Shell said.