
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SATURDAY, October 23, 1993                   TAG: 9310230189
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL                    PAGE: C-3   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: ALLISON BLAKE
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

VA. TECH RESEARCHING BIG FUND-RAISING EFFORT

A confidential study is under way to see if Virginia Tech, strapped by state budget cuts, should undertake a major capital campaign.

Since 1989, state budget cuts have forced the university to consolidate programs and raise tuition. Statewide, the higher education budget has dropped more than $440 million since 1989. Up to 15 percent more may have to be trimmed from university budgets this year. University spokesman Lawrence G. Hincker refused to say how much the Virginia Tech Foundation hopes to raise.

"The difficulties of the state make it extremely critical to have private support in order to sustain programs at the university," said Charles W. Steger, Vice President for Development and University Relations, as well as the foundation's vice president.

Creating endowments to award student scholarships will be among the goals of a campaign, Steger said.

The Chicago-based consulting firm of Grenzebach and Assoc. has been retained to do the study, Steger said.

by CNB