Whitman '77 makes $30 million donation

A $30 million gift by Meg Whitman '77 toward the construction of the sixth residential college will enable the University to expand its undergraduate enrollment by 500 students and institute a new four-year college program.

The donation, which comes during Whitman's 25th reunion year, was announced in February and will support just less than one-third of the $90 to 100 million project. Whitman College will be located behind Dillon Gym, at the current location of the Pagoda tennis courts.

Whitman's gift represents the largest donation by an alumna of the University. Three females stood among the top 30 donors to Annual Giving in 2001 and in 1997 and 1999, only one woman made the top-30 list. Males have also traditionally dominated the list of capital donations, including gifts to support projects like the residential colleges.

Whitman, who was an economics major at the University, is the president and chief executive officer of eBay Inc. and a University trustee.

"I had a great time as a Princeton undergraduate," Whitman said. "The University inspired me to think in ways that have guided me throughout my life. I'm pleased that I can help bring Princeton to more students and that my gift will benefit the University for generations to come."

As a member of the University's executive and finance committees and head of the Princeton Women in Leadership Initiative, Whitman encourages other alumnae to give back to the University. Established to recognize the 25th graduation of women from the University, the initiative works to recruit alumnae as philanthropists and volunteers.

Though Whitman's gift sets a precedent, it may mark the beginning of a larger trend. The Class of 1973 having been the first to fully integrate women, University alumnae are only now beginning to reach the 30th year of their professional careers.

The gift "will have an important demonstration effect for our women who are loyal and contributing, but don't think in [million-dollar] terms," University Board of Trustees president Robert Rawson '66 said.

Discussions about securing a naming gift for the college began last year during President Shapiro's tenure, but became more focused in the fall under President Tilghman, said Vice President and Secretary Thomas Wright '62.

Whitman has previously been a leader in annual giving, but first considered expanding the scale of the gift as discussions about the new college progressed between Whitman and the University's new president.

Wright noted that the coinciding of the largest donation by an alumna with the first year of a woman's presidency at the University exceeded mere symbolism.

"This is the first very large gift by an alumna of the University and a gift of the product of her own success and business, not inherited or found," Wright said. "[Whitman] is pushing herself to do something that would represent a powerful endorsement of and for the Shirley Tilghman presidency."

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The opening of Whitman College will produce a total of six operating residential colleges. The University plans to turn Whitman, Mathey and Butler colleges into four-year colleges that will offer housing to undergraduates of all classes. The two existing colleges will undergo renovation to become four-year colleges. Each college will house underclassmen, about 100 upperclassmen and 10-12 graduate students.

USG president Nina Langsam '03 said she was optimistic about the new program.

"I think it's worthwhile to try out the four-year system," she said. "Many students expressed interest in staying for four years, instead of dispersing after two years."

After nearly two years of discussion about the new college, the donation will allow the University to carry out the expansion in accordance with the Wythes plan, which calls for an additional 500 students.

Beginning in 2006 when Whitman College will be completed the University will add 125 students to each incoming class, completing the Wythes plan in 2010.