Of the $4,444,216 raised by Union Adventist University in the 2023-2024 fiscal year, much of the money was earmarked for scholarships and the new AdventHealth Complex, but $349,943 went to The Union Fund, an innocuously named account with an outsized impact. The Union Fund directs unrestricted gifts to programs and services that have the greatest impact on the university’s students — all the things that make Union Adventist University’s mission possible on a day-to-day basis. Here is a small sample of what’s made possible by gifts to The Union Fund from alumni and Mid-America Union constituents.
Student housing maintenance
When you think of student life at Union, your mind probably jumps to classes, activities, and friendships — the fun stuff, right? But let’s be real: most students spend up to half their college experience in the dorms. No one thinks too much about residence halls until something goes wrong. Suddenly, bam — the shower isn’t working, the heater sounds ready to launch into space, and there’s a leak in the ceiling. It’s rarely a good thing when housing gets its moment in the spotlight — and guess what? It all adds up to money. Gifts to The Union Fund keep the lights on, and not flickering!
Field trips
Field trips at the university level are even more fun than they were in elementary school — everyone in your major is actually interested! The Psychology Program takes an annual trip to The Glore Museum in St Joseph, Missouri, to learn about psychological and psychiatric treatments from the past. Meanwhile public health master’s students visit the Lincoln Water System treatment plant, graphic design majors get their portfolios critiqued (and a few job offers) at Meet the Pros in Omaha, and communication students rub elbows with media ministries and PR professionals at the annual Society of Adventist Communicators conference. Academic travel supported by The Union Fund puts the “ah-ha” into learning theory.
Laboratory equipment and supplies
Micropipettes may sound like a band name from a groovier time, but science students would be lost without them. These measuring tools can get surprisingly expensive, but so can just about everything else needed for chemistry labs and research. From microscopes to stirrer hot plates (for science, not ramen) and a Van de Graaff generator for those shocking moments of discovery, applying science beyond the textbook takes a lot of equipment and supplies. Union’s science professors keep lists of urgent as well as less-urgent needs: a book-length catalogue of chemicals, protective equipment and laboratory glassware. As curricula change to keep up with an ever expanding understanding of our world, The Union Fund keeps the beakers bubbling.
Repair and maintain musical instruments
When a tuba needs a tune-up, The Union Fund is there. The Music Program is the heartbeat of campus, and a stuck slide or loose fingerboard shouldn’t hold anyone back from joining in. Regular repairs and upkeep take performances to the next level, and keep Union’s musicians in perfect harmony.
Nursing lab supplies
When you add up all the supplies nursing students use in the skills lab — basics like gloves, syringes, medications and gauze — the price tag is more than $13,000 per semester. When it comes to healthcare, there’s no substitute for hands-on experience with the right equipment.
Well, that about wraps it up … wait, there’s more! Diploma covers, free tutoring, travel for student teacher observations, academic advising software, databases and academic journals, professional development funds, licensure fees, new sheet music, archival supplies to protect Union’s history … the list goes on and on. The Union Fund is like the unsung hero keeping the university running smoothly. Be a student’s hero today at uau.edu/giving
Janya Mekelburg, a 1986 Union graduate, serves as annual giving director at Union Adventist University.
