UMass Amherst is eyeing growth opportunities fueled by a pair of major financing initiatives. The university on Wednesday announced that a $75 million commitment from the state, combined with a $30 million campus match, will help drive the expansion of its facilities and computing research.
The state grant is expected to be allocated through a series of capital expenditures. In addition, $18 million from a previously announced $50 million gift to the university will endow the newly named Robert and Donna Manning College of Information and Computer Sciences, which has grown its enrollment by 320 percent since 2010 and turned away high-achieving students due to constraints.
The college's first dean, Laura Haas, has created a diversity office and introduced new programs to attract and retain diverse students, faculty and staff, UMass Amherst said. The college hopes to grow the enrollment of women from 27% in 2021 to 40% by the end of the decade.
"I have been very focused on the ethical application of new technologies, which both enhance and complicate our lives," Rob Manning, chairman of both MFS Investment Management and the UMass Board of Trustees, said in a statement. "The future of computing will cure diseases and solve some of the world's greatest challenges, but will also be incredibly disruptive, particularly to the workforce. The College of Information and Computer Sciences at UMass Amherst, with its groundbreaking research and top-notch faculty, is well positioned to be a leader in building a framework for Computing for the Common Good. Donna and I are proud to invest in this incredibly important initiative."
“It’s an exciting time for UMass Amherst, and we’re incredibly grateful for this gift from the Manning family and funding commitment from the Commonwealth,” UMass Amherst Chancellor Kumble Subbaswamy said. “We are committed to contributing to an inclusive and innovative society, and we know these gifts will help our institution harness technology’s power to drive this change.”
Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker was scheduled to attend the announcement in Amherst Wednesday. His appearance was cancelled after a strong storm knocked out power to hundreds of thousands in the eastern part of the state.