University of Toronto at Mississauga Gifts Boost Student Success (September 01, 2005)

The University of Toronto at Mississauga (UTM) has received three major gifts that will support students' academic achievements and provide a foundation for their future success.

The gifts -- $300,000 from the GE Foundation; a personal gift of $100,000 from Bob Gillespie, former chief executive officer of GE Canada; and another personal gift of $100,000 from Gary Mooney, president of Fidelity National Financial Canada -- will benefit students and the Academic Skills Centre, UTM's coaching and mentoring program for students and faculty.

"The University of Toronto at Mississauga is committed to providing students with a top quality university experience and these gifts further this commitment," says Ian Orchard, UTM's vice-president and principal.  "UTM -- its students, faculty and staff -- is extremely grateful to the GE Foundation, Bob and Irene Gillespie and Gary and Brenda Mooney.  With their generosity and vision, we are able to make education more accessible to talented students and provide our students with the education and services they need to succeed in their future careers."

The GE Foundation's gift, a tribute to Bob Gillespie on his recent retirement from GE Canada, honours his leadership within GE and the broader community. The additional $100,000 from Gillespie, himself, will strengthen the centre's teaching and research activities and enhance student success. 

To recognize the generosity of the GE Foundation and Gillespie, the university will name the centre the Bob Gillespie Academic Skills Centre, to be housed within the $34-million Hazel McCallion Academic Learning Centre, when it opens in 2006. The naming of the centre will go to the University of Toronto Governing Council for approval in the fall.

"GE places great emphasis on imagination in stimulating its business growth," says Elyse Allan, president and CEO of GE Canada.  "In this regard, we are proud to partner with UTM to help students develop tomorrow's breakthrough ideas. This gift from the GE Foundation is a tribute to Bob Gillespie, a highly respected GE business leader over many years and a dedicated volunteer who has ardently supported so many community projects in Mississauga. We are honoured to recognize his leadership and vision in this way."

"I am honoured that GE has decided to pay tribute to me by extending a gift to the University of Toronto at Mississauga," says Gillespie.  "This is an important gift in support of the Academic Skills Centre, which will be part of the new leading-edge Hazel McCallion Academic Learning Centre.  As long-time residents of this community, my wife Irene and I are pleased to make an additional gift in support of the same cause.  By investing in students and faculty through the Academic Skills Centre at UTM, we are investing in the future of our city."

The gift from Gary Mooney and his wife Brenda will make education more accessible and affordable to students. The Gary and Brenda Mooney Award is the first one at UTM that specifically supports students with financial need who take advantage of skill-enhancing programming offered by the Academic Skills Centre.

"I value the role the University of Toronto at Mississauga plays in the prosperity of this city," says Mooney.  "A university is the heart of a community, and my wife Brenda and I believe it is important to give back to the city we live in.  It is also important to invest in students -- to help them prepare for their careers.  I am thrilled this scholarship will be awarded to a student who has taken the initiative to use the Academic Skills Centre, which will be housed within The Hazel McCallion Academic Learning Centre, and hope our gift encourages more students to take advantage of the opportunities this facility has to offer."

The Academic Skills Centre helps students develop the skills they need for academic success. Staff, student facilitators and faculty provide guidance on topics ranging from time management and essay writing to memory skills and lab report writing. In addition, there are discipline-specific seminars throughout the year, individual consultations and drop-in study skills clinics.

______________________________________________________________________________

Written by Tracy Moniz, manager of communications and marketing, Office of Advancement, UTM.