University of Alabama raises goal for Rising Tide capital campaign

Ken Roberts, Tuscaloosa News
·2 min read

The University of Alabama has increased its fundraising goal to $1.8 billion for the Rising Tide capital campaign.

The campaign, designed to increase student scholarships, boost faculty research, improve campus facilities and continue the momentum of success in athletics, has already reached its original goal of raising $1.5 billion before its Sept. 30, 2026 deadline, according to a Monday news release.

UA has dubbed the 20% increase in the campaign's goal as the "Rising Tide 2.0."

One of the beneficiaries of the Rising Tide campaign is the University of Alabama's Randall Welcome Center. The center includes the the Roll Tide room, an immersive audio/visual experience featuring curved video screens that give the impression of being on campus for a college football game from tailgating to the game itself.
One of the beneficiaries of the Rising Tide campaign is the University of Alabama's Randall Welcome Center. The center includes the the Roll Tide room, an immersive audio/visual experience featuring curved video screens that give the impression of being on campus for a college football game from tailgating to the game itself.

“When we publicly launched the Rising Tide in September 2021, we were optimistic about the $1.5 billion goal and were confident we could achieve it,” UA’s Vice President for Advancement Bob Pierce said in the release.

“None of us thought, at the time, we would reach that mark more than two years ahead of schedule. The fact we are now raising the goal by $300 million is a testament to the generosity of our alumni and donors. All our supporters have responded to the Rising Tide in a tremendous way, and it is allowing us to set our sights even higher,” Pierce said.

UA said that more than 160,000 supporters have contributed to the Rising Tide campaign so far. The campaign has already been used to fund almost 1,000 new endowed scholarships, 60 new faculty endowments and more than 500,000 square feet of campus facilities, according to UA.

Tours move through the Jo Ann Boozer Ray Exhibition Gallery for the fashion design program during the dedication of Drummond Lyon Hall at the University of Alabama Friday, Sept. 8, 2023. Drummond Lyon Hall benefited from the Rising Tide capital campaign.
Tours move through the Jo Ann Boozer Ray Exhibition Gallery for the fashion design program during the dedication of Drummond Lyon Hall at the University of Alabama Friday, Sept. 8, 2023. Drummond Lyon Hall benefited from the Rising Tide capital campaign.

The Rising Tide campaign has helped fund renovations at Bryant-Denny Stadium and the golf training facility, which is set to open in July.

UA also touted the recent openings of the Drummond Lyon Hall for retail fashion and apparel design, the Smith Family Center for the Performing Arts and the Catherine and Pettus Randall Welcome Center on the Bryce Campus.

The capital campaign is led by co-chairs Karen and Jim Brooks and Kathy and Mike Mouron.

Mike Mouron said he's learned about every aspect of UA during his involvement in the campaign.

"Through this opportunity, we’ve learned the University of Alabama has defied gravity by growing both enrollment and academic performance," he said. "Continued investments by Alabama alumni and friends are critically important to help continue this growth.”

Reach Ken Roberts at ken.roberts@tuscaloosanews.com.

This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: University of Alabama raises Rising Tide campaign goal to $1.8 billion