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The IUP Alumni Association and Foundation for IUP’s Commitment to COM
The IUP Alumni Association Board of Directors pledged $500,000 to support IUP’s proposed college of osteopathic medicine, addressing Pennsylvania’s critical rural health care needs. President Leslie Purser emphasized the initiative’s importance in reinforcing IUP’s academic reputation and enhancing health care access. The board is committed to advancing this project alongside significant contributions from alumni, reflecting their dedication to IUP’s future and mission.
The IUP Alumni Association is an independent, nonprofit corporation governed by an elected board of directors. Every IUP graduate is a member of the IUP Alumni Association. The Association’s mission is to create and enrich relationships to engage current and future alumni in the advancement of IUP. While the IUP Alumni Association does not solicit or fundraise on behalf of IUP, it is the owner of an endowment built from several affinity programs. The endowment funds are maintained by the Foundation for IUP, but members of the Alumni Association Board of Directors make decisions about spending endowment funds. Over the past 30 years, the Association has donated $1.7 million to support several areas across campus, including the Alumni Legacy Scholarship, which supports incoming students who are children, stepchildren, or grandchildren of IUP alumni.
(Photo at top: The 2024-25 IUP Alumni Association Board of Directors. From left: Richard M. Ubinger*; David Bluemling*; Foundation Executive Director Betsy Lauber; IUP proposed college of osteopathic medicine founding dean Miko Rose; Regina Stover*; IUP President Michael Driscoll; Richard Caruso*; James Leda*; Andrew Longacre*; Frank Condino*. *Foundation for IUP Board of Directors member)
The Foundation for Indiana University of Pennsylvania has committed $20 million to support IUP’s proposed college of osteopathic medicine.
“IUP’s proposed college of osteopathic medicine will be transformational–for IUP, for the community, for the region, and especially for the commonwealth’s rural health care needs,” Former Foundation for IUP Board of Directors President Regina Stover said. “The Foundation Board is enthusiastic and unanimous in its support for this important initiative, and we are proud to make this commitment for this project.”
These funds come from unrestricted dollars that have grown over time due to operating income, portfolio earnings, and revenue from on-campus housing owned by the foundation. The foundation is a nonprofit organization founded in 1967; its primary mission is to provide philanthropic support for IUP. It is governed by an independent board of directors made up of volunteers and employs a full-time staff of eight, which includes an executive director.
