A new health sciences building, designed to offer students with hands-on laboratory experience, is one of the many things Dixie State College hopes to fund with its current capital campaign. They hope to raise $100 million by 2011.

"The success of this effort will ensure that the college continues the tremendous ascent that has defined it during the last few decades and will position the institution for the century ahead," Dixie's campaign chairman Kenneth B. Newby said. He said investors will not only be helping students in their academic efforts but will help to broaden the scope of what the college can offer its students.

In addition to the science building, DSC hopes to offer internship assistance and scholarships to more students, hire additional faculty, work with the community to offer educational and cultural experiences, upgrade available technology on campus, and renovate various spaces on campus to better facilitate students, athletes, community members and visitors. They also hope to be able to plan for future advancements at the college.

"It's gratifying to know that the success of this campaign will have a profound impact on the next generation of the Dixie family," Newby said.

President Michael Young at the University of Utah is keeping things local right now, hosting focus group dinners and luncheons to gather ideas of what the community wants to see happen at the Salt Lake school.

"It's a lot of getting their perspective to help frame our vision for the future of the university," said Fred Esplin, vice president for the U.'s university relations. "But it's a year-round proposition."

The university's 16 different colleges and 12 non-academic units are always in need of funding. Currently, Esplin said the U. is funding various projects across campus, including an addition to the hospital and a new humanities building, and they are also looking for endowments to fund salary increases for faculty.

The current campaign efforts are more of a feasibility study but Esplin says they are always trying to raise funds. The institution brings in an average of $130 million to $140 million in private donations each year due to various fund-raising efforts.

Having 12 out-of-state alumni chapters also helps to bring national attention and money from out of state, Esplin said. "For the most part though, a lot of our alumni is right here in Utah and they provide a lot of support," he said.

Without financial support from the communities they are a part of, officials at Utah's colleges and universities agree that their goals could not be accomplished.

"We're always raising funds," Esplin said of the U.'s efforts. "We need the money to function as a whole."

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E-mail: wleonard@desnews.com