London donors help KU Multicultural Scholars Program expand

LAWRENCE -- A pioneering program that helps students from diverse backgrounds succeed at the University of Kansas has expanded to eight academic units -- including the schools of pharmacy and architecture -- thanks to two KU supporters in London, England.

Douglas L. Miller, economics and international relations '66 and MBA '71, and his wife, Audrey Tanaka Miller, have pledged $275,000 to the Kansas University Endowment Association for the Multicultural Scholars Program. The program provides scholarship and mentoring support to students from many backgrounds and economic circumstances at KU. The Millersÿ latest contribution brings their total commitments for KU to more than $500,000.

Of their most recent gift, $100,000 will provide initial funding to launch the program in the KU School of Pharmacy and the School of Architecture and Urban Design. An additional $25,000 of the gift will provide study abroad scholarships for qualifying undergraduate students in the program. The remainder of the gift may be used to launch the program in three more academic units.

"We would not have had the rapid expansion of the Multicultural Scholars Program at KU without the generosity and vision shown by Doug and Audrey Miller," said Chancellor Robert Hemenway. "They have demonstrated repeatedly that they are dedicated to increasing the diversity of KUÿs student body, including minority enrollment and retention, in an effort to improve diversity in our society."

Founded in 1992 in the KU School of Business by Associate Professor Renate Mai-Dalton, the Multicultural Scholars Program was broadened in 2001 to include other academic units. As funding has become available from the Millers and other donors, the program has expanded to include the KU schools of journalism and education, and into the areas of languages and the humanities; human development and family life; and African and African-American studies. KU and KU Endowment officials hope the program will expand through the help of additional donors.

The program combines scholarships, tutoring, personalized advising, and cultural and social events to attract and retain a diverse student body at KU. In exchange, students must maintain a 2.5 grade-point average, attend all program meetings and events, and be honest about their academic progress. A faculty member directs each academic unit of the program and works one-on-one with the scholars.

New program scholars also are paired with more experienced ones, who help students adjust to life at KU, said Kathryn "Katie" Nelson, a Shoreview, Minn., senior in the Multicultural Journalism Scholars Program.

"I wish there had been a program like this for me when I was a freshman at KU," Nelson said. "One of the hardest things at a university like this is navigating it, like figuring out classes or working out a schedule. I really like talking with the younger students in the program because I can help them with what classes to take, how to plan or who to go to for information."

Nelson has completed several journalism internships and hopes to work for a metropolitan daily newspaper after graduation. She said the programÿs emphasis on advising and cultural events helps keep students involved.

"It forces you to make the time to do cultural things you might not otherwise do," Nelson said, "like see 'Rent' at the Lied Center or a womenÿs basketball game, even when you have a full load of classes. And the advisory meetings make sure that you follow through on the goals you set for yourself."

Mai-Dalton, who is the coordinator of all Multicultural Scholars Programs and the director of the program in the School of Business, said the number of participants has grown from seven to 80 students, and by last May, 53 students had earned their bachelorÿs degrees.

"The program provides such a strong foundation for success," Mai-Dalton said. "It helps the students overcome the obstacles they face, from the college traumas everyone deals with, to the problems of stereotyping, prejudice and the confusion that comes with being from different cultures or economic circumstances at a large, predominantly white university."

Doug said he and Audrey have been drawn to support the program for several reasons.

"Our society is becoming more multicultural by the year, and itÿs extremely important that diversity be reflected at all levels of society," he said.

"Education is the route to achieving that. Our vision for the future is that these programs will continue to grow and be successful within the various schools at KU and will be used as a model for establishing similar programs at other universities across the United States."

Doug also said that he and Audrey continue to support the program because of Mai-Daltonÿs leadership and the support the program receives from university administrators.

"Also," Audrey said, "we are grateful that many other donors have joined us in supporting the program, and in particular, the Multicultural Business Scholars Program. It has received longtime support from donors such as William and Marilyn Taylor, David and Beth Wittig, Ernst & Young and the Kemper Foundation."

Doug is a native of Pittsburg. He worked for Continental Bank of Chicago until 1990, when he founded International Private Equity Limited. Audrey, who was born and raised in Kapaa, Hawaii, graduated from the University of Oregon in 1969 with a bachelorÿs degree in elementary education. She and Doug have two children, Mika and Eric.

The gift from the Millers will count toward the $500 million goal of KU First: Invest in Excellence, the largest fund-raising campaign in KU history. KU Endowment is conducting KU First on behalf of KU through 2004 to raise funds for scholarships, fellowships, professorships, capital projects and program support. KU Endowment is an independent, nonprofit organization serving as the official fund-raising and fund-management organization for KU.