Plans for a SUCCCESS $5 million SOPA fundaiser???

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We applaud BIG ideas. But BIG ideas are free and don't accomplish anything. 

For example in the email below from Dean George Klay Kieh of SOPA- we wonder- how did he decide to raise a "minimum of $5 million?"  Rumors are that during his job interview he admitted to only raising $5000.  To go from $5,000 to $5,000,000 seems...ambitiously reckless.  Perhaps Dean Kieh is trying to impress our new President?   

Did Dean Kieh just make the up the $5 million or was there any thought put into HOW he would raise such a mammoth amount of moooolah?  Usually a great deal of effort and research is put into how much to (realistically) raise.  Committees formed, consultants hired, alumni, faculty, staff, students outreach, polling. 

We are not even aware if TSU has ever raised $5 million from anywhere, let alone 1 school having such am ambitious goal.  Let's not talk about King Lane's Maroon and Gray fundraising right?

Too often unfortunately, our leadership at TSU like to DREAM and TALK big, but with very little action.  Dean Kieh appears to have inherited some of the committee from Dean Herrington who was plagued with questions and concerns of monetary accountability as to the SOPA annual fundraising efforts when our own Mr. LaRence Snowden was the SOPA Assistant Dean.  Based on those "fuzzy accountability" concerns, many SOPA faculty have not donated in years. 

https://transparencystate.blogspot.com/2020/06/houston-housing-authority-and-criminal.html 

It is surprisingly easy at TSU to lose your leadership position making terrible decisions and keeping company with the wrong individuals- after all, we've had 5 SOPA Deans, 5 Provosts and 5 Presidents at TSU since 2008.

We wish Dean Kieh much SUCCCESS to raise a minimum of $5 million in the next 5 years- but what is the goal for 2021-2022?

More importantly- Who will be dean of SOPA in 2026? 

From: Kieh, George <George.Kieh@tsu.edu>
Date: Monday, July 12, 2021 at 10:11 AM
To: School of Public Affairs <TEAM_SOPA@TSU.EDU>, Higgins, Glenda A. <Glenda.Higgins@tsu.edu>, Mason, Kaelynne J <Kaelynne.Mason@tsu.edu>
Cc: Kieh, George <George.Kieh@tsu.edu>
Subject: RE: INVITATION TO THE FORMAL LAUNCHING OF THE BJ-ML SCHOOL OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS "FUNDRAISING CAMPAIGN"

Dear Colleagues,

Warm greetings. I trust all is well. I am sending you the invitation for the official launching of the BJ-ML School of Public Affairs' "Fundraising Campaign," which will be held on Friday, August 6, 2021, at 11 a.m.(Virtually). The "Fundraising Campaign" will cover a five-year period(from 2021-2026), with the goal of raising a minimum of $5 million for the following purposes:

1.STUDENT SUCCCESS INITIATIVES:

A. Student Merit-based and Needs-based Scholarships

B. Tutoring

C. Academic Advising Programs and Projects

2. PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT:

A. Faculty Professional Development: Grants for Research and Teaching and Curriculum Development

B. Graduate Student Professional Development: Grants to present papers at professional conferences.

C. Undergraduate Professional Development: Grants to present papers at professional conferences

D. Staff Professional Development: Grants to staff members to attend professional conferences and to "retool."

3. BJ-ML SCHOOL OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS' OPERATING FUND:  Support other initiatives, as well as well as the operations of BJ-ML School of Public Affairs

Mrs. Georgia Provost, the Vice Chair of the Advisory Board of BJ-ML School of Public Affairs, Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, Member of the U.S. House of Representatives, and Member of the Advisory Board of BJ-ML School of Public Affairs,  and Hon. Ron Ellis, Commissioner of Harris County, and Member of the Advisory Board of BJ-ML School of Public Affairs, will serve as the Co-Chairs for the BJ-ML School of Public Affairs "Fundraising Campaign."

I am appealing to you to attend the official launching program, as well as make a contribution(NO AMOUNT IS TOO SMALL)  to the fundraising campaign. Thanks for your continued support. 

All the best,

George

 GEORGE  KLAY KIEH, Jr., PH. D

 Dean OF Barbara Jordan-Mickey Leland School of Public Affairs

Professor of Political Science

Office of the Dean

Office: 713-313-7827 | Fax 713-313-4896

Public Affairs Building, 415F

3100 Cleburne Street, Houston, TX 77004

 


Comments

Anonymous said…
This is very confusing. Is SOPA fundraising competing against TSU donations?
July 30, 2021 at 5:30 PM
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