KINGSTON, R.I.—June 3, 2024—The University of Rhode Island has surpassed its elevated campaign goal of $300 million ahead of the official end date of June 30, 2024. Conducted by the URI Foundation & Alumni Engagement (URIFAE),  Big Ideas. Bold Plans. The Campaign for the University of Rhode Island, a comprehensive effort to advance the University through philanthropic gifts, was publicly launched in 2020 with an initial goal of $250 million. More than 34,000 individuals, including alumni, family, friends, faculty, staff, corporations, and foundations contributed in large and small amounts to reach the goal.

“The tremendous success of this campaign is proof of what we can do when we work together,” said URI President Marc Parlange. “The University of Rhode Island’s students, faculty, and staff are exceptionally hard-working, talented, and innovative, and thanks to this effort, we can provide them with what they need to make a difference here on campus, in our community, and around the world.”

“The University of Rhode Island was foundational to my career,” said Alfred J. Verrecchia ’67, MBA ’72, Hon. ’04, current chair of the URIFAE Board of Directors, “and because of this campaign, today’s generation of students will find new opportunities to succeed. I am grateful to everyone who supported this effort and to all of those who continue to be involved. This is a significant achievement, but we are not done yet.”

An extensive planning process involving alumni, volunteer leaders, faculty, and staff defined a strategic effort that spanned five pillars: student access, the URI learning experience, transformative faculty leadership, innovative and distinctive programs, and strategic opportunities.

“URI has advanced significantly in recent years with the support of alumni and the state,” said Margo Cook ’86, chair of the URI Board of Trustees. “We are executing on our vision and strategy to provide excellent educational opportunities, advance our research mission, and grow as Rhode Island’s premier higher education institution.”

“During the planning phase, we saw this as a chance to elevate the whole University,” said Thomas M. Ryan ’75, Hon. ’99, who was chair of the URIFAE Board of Directors at the campaign’s launch. “The achievements made possible by this campaign have inspired students and faculty and brought well-earned recognition to the exceptional quality of our teaching, research, and athletics programs.”

The campaign has set historic marks for URI in terms of overall participation as well as transformative individual gifts. Some of the highlights include:

• Thomas M. Ryan ’75, Hon.’99 and his wife Cathy Ryan made a $35 million gift to expand research and teaching capacity in neuroscience, create a scholars program to attract high-performing students, and support athletics.
• Alfred J. Verrecchia ’67, MBA’72, Hon.’04 and his wife Geraldine Verrecchia made a $15 million gift in support of the College of Business that creates a scholarship for high-achieving students, a fund for students pursuing competitive internships, a faculty chair as well as a professorship in artificial intelligence and business analytics, and an emerging technology fund.
• Michael D. Fascitelli ’78, Hon. ’08 and his wife Elizabeth C. Fascitelli made a $10 million gift for advanced equipment and dean’s priorities in the College of Engineering.
• S. Kent Fannon ’74 and Diane Chace Fannon ’74 made a $6 million gift to advance the renovation of Ballentine Hall and support the Center for Student Success at the College of Business.
• $8 million in campaign gifts from Richard J. Harrington ’73, Hon. ’02 and his wife Jean Harrington supported the renovation of Ranger Hall and other priorities for the Harrington School of Communication and Media.
• More than 22,000 individuals gave varying gifts to RhodyNow, providing immediate-use funding for the University’s most timely priorities.

As a result of these gifts and many others, URI has raised more than $71 million for financial aid, brought in cutting-edge scientific equipment, built and renovated classrooms and labs for enhanced teaching and learning, upgraded athletics facilities, expanded experiential learning opportunities for students to launch their careers, and more.

“The campaign has really accelerated growth across the University,” said Richard J. Harrington ’73, Hon. ’02, campaign chair. “Along with helping students and faculty, it brings recognition to the areas where URI already excels while helping newer programs scale up.”

During the campaign, the University has seen its global profile rise while also receiving substantial investment from the state through increased allocations in the budget. In the same timeframe, URI received voter approval for two state bonds, one that supports renovations and construction on the Fine Arts Center and one for improvements to the Narragansett Bay Campus.

“This is the biggest campaign in URI’s history, and what we have achieved is remarkable,” said URIFAE President Lil Breul O’Rourke. “I want to thank our extraordinary community of alumni and friends who got involved, attended events, offered their support, and who altogether embody Rhody pride. Together, we are transforming URI into a leading global research institution driving positive social, cultural, and environmental change.”  

The campaign will continue through its planned end date on June 30, 2024. While the achievements of the campaign elevate URI to a new tier among flagship public research universities, it also lays the foundation for continued growth and improvement for years to come.

Legislation that if made into law would require buyers of oceanfront homes to be informed of the public’s “rights and privileges of the shore” is scheduled to go before the Rhode Island General Assembly this week.

The bills (2024-H 7376 and 2024-S 2185) both received a recommendation of passage last week in their respective Judiciary committee in the House of Representatives and Senate.

The House bill’s local sponsor is state Rep. Tina Spears (D-Dist. 36, Charlestown, South Kingstown, New Shoreham, Westerly), while the Senate version is sponsored locally by state Sen. Victoria Gu (D-Dist. 38, Westerly, Charlestown, South Kingstown).

Both bills are part of a package of legislation the lawmakers backed in March to add public protections for Rhode Islanders’ access to the shoreline.

Gu and others testified on the bill on April 23 before the Senate committee.

“This bill builds on the historic shoreline access law that the General Assembly passed last year,” Gu said.

That law moved the area of public access to within 10 feet inland of the seaweed line. Specifically, the law sets the line at 10 feet landward from the recognizable high tide line, also known as the “wrack line,” typically a line of seaweed, scum and other deposits left where the tide reached its highest point. It specifies that, in places where there are multiple wrack lines, the one closest to the water will be the one from which the 10 feet is measured.

Gu called the proposed disclosure bill an important consumer protection and education measure.

“A lot of people in Rhode Island are aware of the new shoreline access law, but people coming in from other states to buy property don’t necessarily know.”

Conrad Ferla, a supporter of the bill, administers a group devoted to saving coastal access.

“We discovered early on that real estate agents were advertising private beaches for places that weren’t often private,” he said. A recent listing in Green Hill by a Connecticut agent that advertised a private beach in reality referred to state land under the Department of Environmental Management, he said.

“We find this happening over and over again,” Ferla said. The issue also affects shoreline rental homes, he said.

Philip B. Tedesco, chief executive officer of the R.I. Association of Realtors, outlined several concerns about the bill. Among them were its definition of both “oceanfront” and “shoreline.”

“RIAR is concerned that there may be properties where it is difficult to determine if the definition

applies,” he said. “For instance, properties along ponds, rivers, etc. may be considered tidal-influenced, but the owners may not consider them oceanfront or shoreline. Failure to disclose this to a prospective buyer could be an oversight.”

It also has concerns about CRMC jurisdictional issues raised in the bill.

Another bill in the package, (2024-H 7645, 2024-S 2641) which allows for a “qualified abandonment” of town highways or driftways and grants a public easement over the road so it may be converted to a public trail, as well as for “access to parks, nature preserves and other recreational facilities” was passed in the House May 14. That modified version was referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee on May 17.

“This bill is a great step forward,” said Michael Rubin, a retired Rhode Island assistant attorney general and longtime coastal advocate. “It embodies the concept of doing no harm. Too often when towns abandon roads it harms the public by reducing access. This bill will allow those roads to continue to serve recreation and access to our natural resources.”

A third bill would allow the state Coastal Resources Management Council to designate historical footpaths as rights of way. Currently a pathway must have been used by carriages or vehicles to qualify as a potential right of way. The bill (2024-S 2634, 2024-H 7750) would repeal that condition, clearing the way for the CRMC to protect historical footpaths used for shoreline access through official designation. That bill has been held for further study in both chambers.

In opposition is the R.I. Mortgage Bankers Association, represented by Lenette Forry-Menard.

“We oppose it because we believe it will increase the likelihood of easement claims that would adversely affect values of real property secured by loans of our members,” she said.

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) — The Jewish Alliance of Greater Rhode Island held its first Jewish Culture Festival on June 2.

“At the Alliance, we believe strongly that one of the best ways to combat antisemitism is to give people a chance to engage with our community,” President and CEO and Adam Greenman said.

Greenman said that the event featured Jewish food, art, music, and dance, as well as a kids’ area, beer garden, and food trucks.

He added that the organization expected a thousand people to attend by the end of the day.

“It’s been so great to see so many people from throughout the community come and join us,” Greenman said.

The event at the Dwares JCC runs until 6:30 p.m. Sunday.