Since 1843, Clarke University has stood for the BVM Core Values and a commitment to the common good. More than 180 years later, our students face a new world full of challenges and opportunities to bring those values to life.
With this in mind, our community created a new strategic plan to guide our work into 2026. From the broad goals outlined there, we’ve developed a comprehensive philanthropic campaign that defines specific objectives that will drive progress for students, faculty, staff, and the greater Clarke community.
Together, we aim to:
- Increase total full-time student enrollment from 1,025 to 1,200
- Improve first-year student retention from 67 percent to 80 percent
- Foster philanthropic support through a $40 million comprehensive campaign designed to empower student success and increase financial strength and accessibility
Clarke has stood the test of time because of the people who have come before us. Will you stand with us and the BVM Sisters now, United in Purpose, to see Clarke grow even stronger into the future?
Learn more about the initiatives included
Empowering Student Success Through:
Launching a Student Success Center
By centralizing key student services like Admissions, Academic Support, Engagement and more, we aim to strengthen student ties to these critical services and improve interoffice collaboration.
Developing a Teaching and Learning Center
This collaborative space will provide technology and other resources to encourage teaching excellence, interdisciplinary research, individualized academic support, and more.
Renewing Iconic Campus Spaces
Thoughtful upgrades to classrooms and labs throughout Catherine Byrne Hall and rooms throughout Clarke’s Residence Halls will ensure students have safe, comfortable spaces to learn and grow.
Increasing Financial Strength and Accessibility By:
Growing Clarke’s Endowment to $45 million, Promising New Opportunities for Students and Faculty
Endowed funds support scholarships, awards, and programs that benefits students and faculty alike. Ranging from 155 endowed funds to new opportunities for named chairs, scholarships and more, our endowment is the foundation to the future of Clarke.
Enhancing the Clarke Fund for Immediate Needs
An unrestricted gift is one of the greatest ways to make an impact because it goes to work immediately to improve all aspects of campus life.
100% of traditional full-time undergraduate students receive financial aid, and without the Clarke Fund, they would see roughly an 8 percent increase in the cost of tuition, room, board, and fees per year. In the 2022-2023 academic year, tuition covered a little less than half of Clarke’s operating expenses.