FAQ

What is the Embrace the Vision campaign?
Why is the Embrace the Vision campaign happening now?
What are the five priorities?
Is there an Embrace the Vision long-range goal?
Who is leading this campaign?
Why should I give to the Embrace the Vision program?
Where do I send my gift?
Where can I find more information on the Embrace the Vision campaign?
Where does my money go?
How much should I give?
How long do I have to make my gift to NSUOCO?
What about annual fund gifts?
Can I designate how my money is used?
Do I have a choice in the way in which I can make my gift?

What is the Embrace the Vision campaign?
From its strategic planning process the NSU Oklahoma College of Optometry administration and faculty identified a limited set of critical priorities that ensure NSUOCO has the resources to maintain the quality of the educational and clinical experiences our students have come to expect. This has led to the creation of both short- and long-term funding goals. The five critical priorities inherent in the Celebration Goals represent the most pressing needs, and the shortest timeline. Longer term needs include the creation of new academic, clinical, and research facilities; completely new and revitalized buildings on the Tahlequah campus. These are considered essential for the long-range maintenance of excellence for the program.

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Why is the Embrace the Vision campaign happening now?
NSUOCO Dean Dean Penisten and the faculty and staff determined that the five Celebration Goals are critical elements that must be addressed immediately in order to keep NSUOCO an attractive and competitive educational choice, to continue to attract highly regarded faculty and to maintain the exceptional value of an NSUOCO diploma by continuing the exceptional clinical training experiences of its graduates.

In short: Action is needed now to ensure and enhance the value of degrees and certificates earned through programs supported by the Northeastern State University Oklahoma College of Optometry.

The campaign is beginning in 2011 because these campaign elements will help us fund near-term enhancements and endowments and plan for long-term growth while actively engaging our alumni, faculty, staff, and other supporters.

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What are the five priorities?
These five priorities combined are the Celebration campaign goals. The combined fundraising goal for the Celebration campaign is $3,250,000. The campaign seeks to underwrite or endow:

• NSUOCO Endowments provide perpetual funding for program support, scholarships, research and faculty positions, ensuring continued recruitment and retention of high-quality students and professors

• Pioneers in Optometry General Endowment
• Endowed Student Scholarships
• Endowed Faculty Chairs
• Research Endowment

 $2,000,000

• The Lesley L. Walls Vision Center at NSU Broken Arrow constructs and equip a low vision and vision remediation and rehabilitation clinic to serve unmet care needs of Tulsa area patients, provide teaching/research opportunities to adjunct staff and offer a diverse clinical/practical experience to NSUOCO students.

$500,000

• NSU Tahlequah Campus Specialty Care Clinic: Advanced Clinical & Surgical Care Center modify construction and update equipment at the speciality clinic to extend NSUOCO services and expand teaching and student practicum experiences

$250,000

• Clinical Equipment Planned Replacement expand a planned replacement program for both the teaching and practice equipment, assuring patients, students and faculty of current technology

 $250,000

• Design & Planning for Tahlequah Facilities engage architects and planners to define the features, functions and design perameters for a new and renewed academic, clinical and research complex on the Tahlequah campus

$250,000 

The scholarships will honor legendary NSUOCO educators (Bezan, Cyert, Foster, Pheiffer, Van Veen, and Walls) and will support students in specialized study.

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Is there an Embrace the Vision long-range goal?
Yes. Three OCO facilities have served the program adequately since its inception over 35 years ago. Despite updates, expansions and enhancements, current facilities limit the growth of the OCO program and affect its ultimate impact. Dean Penisten has recommended a long-range goal to research, design, privately fund and construct a state-of-the-art facility on the Tahlequah campus to better prepare students for the changing demands of optometric practice.

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Who is leading this campaign?
The Embrace the Vision co-chairs are Robert Zoellner and Michael Bennett. They are supported by a 12-member Steering Committee composed of alumni, faculty, students and supporters. The members include: Natalie Batt (NSUOCO staff), Dawn Holsted, Christee Jenlink (Broken Arrow dean), Justin Lindsey, Jeff Miller, Saundra Naifeh, John Pembrook (NSUOCO faculty), Denise Roddy, Tami Ross, Kyle Tate, Les Walls and Vanessa Williams (Student).

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Why should I give to the Embrace the Vision program?
The Northeastern State University Oklahoma College of Optometry offers its alumni, friends and supporters an opportunity to designate among the five priorities to give back and to support the future.

Your gift is 100-percent tax-deductible through the NSU Foundation. Your gift will benefit future classes of NSUOCO students, secure the quality of your diploma and assist NSUOCO Dean Doug Penisten to keep the programs, faculty and program/curriculum competitive with other schools.

Your gift can help either establish critically needed clinics in Broken Arrow and Tahlequah, underwrite scholarships and teaching positions, assure that students practice on state-of-the-art equipment and plan for a teaching facility that vaults NSUOCO into the national spotlight.

And ultimately, a commitment to the Embrace the Vision Campaign is a means for adding value to the degrees and certificates earned through the College. A gift is a way to say thank you for all that NSUOCO programs have done for you, and it is a means for making sure that these degrees and certificates continue to grow in terms of prestige and worth in the eyes of the community, nation and the profession.

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Where do I send my gift?
You can make a gift online by visiting www.nsuocogiving.com. Click the "Click here to give to the NSUOCO campaign." Gifts also can be sent by mail to the Embrace the Vision Campaign, NSU Foundation, 812 N. Cedar Avenue Tahlequah, OK 74464-2399. Click here for the letter of intent (PDF 104K).

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Where can I find more information on the Embrace the Vision campaign?
The Embrace the Vision website at www.nsuocogiving.com contains all pertinent information, video and links to fully inform you of the opportunities to give and the impact of your gift.

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Where does my money go?
All Embrace the Vision donations will be held and managed by the NSU Foundation in accounts designated for each of the five priorities. These funds are secure, and they are restricted for use specifically as requested by the donor who supplied them.

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How much should I give?
The amount of your gift is a personal decision based on your resources. Your gift is an investment in the future of NSU, its students and staff and faculty.

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How long do I have to make my gift to NSUOCO?
The Embrace the Vision campaign plans for a five-year payout window. The campaign leadership will offer a variety of payment options and schedules to meet your financial position.

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What about annual fund gifts?
Your annual fund support is still important. However, because of the increasing costs to stay current on technology, teaching methods, and research and to meet the growing vision needs of residents of northeastern Oklahoma, we hope that you consider support beyond your annual gift.

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Can I designate how my money is used?
Yes. Some donors prefer to direct their gifts to one specific priority area. Simply indicate which of the five OCO Embrace the Vision priorities is your preference.

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Do I have a choice in the way in which I can make my gift?
Yes. In the Foundation section of the NSU website under Ways to Give you will find a thorough list of the array of the nine different giving opportunities that are available to you.

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