For some, four years of paying tuition to Syracuse is enough. But not for Martin J. Whitman, who gave such a large donation to the School of Management the school is now named after him.

A member of the class of 1949, Whitman said the quality of his experience at SU influenced his decision to donate such a large amount.

‘I had very memorable learning experiences at Syracuse,’ Whitman said. ‘It has great faculty and a great student body.’

Whitman felt that donating to Management was a good investment.

‘The School of Management is going to go places,’ he said.

In its 2004 edition, U.S. News and World Report ranked SU’s management program 39th in the nation, along with Boston University, Tulane, Virginia Tech, Georgia State, the University of Colorado and the University of South Carolina.

Clint Tankersley, associate dean of the undergraduate programs at Management, also saw a promising future for the school, citing increasing enrollment as evidence. Management enrollment has jumped from 1,000 students 10 years ago to 1,350 this year.

‘We have seen significant growth in the student population over the past few years,’ Tankersley said. ‘Students are looking to graduate with a career path attached, which makes a business degree valuable.’

Plans for another management building designed to support the school’s curriculum, set to be completed in 2005, is also something Tankersley believes will make Management marketable in the future.

‘We have a lot of group projects, and the new building will have team rooms for students to use,’ Tankersley said.

Whitman’s gift is unrestricted, which means he gave no instructions on how the school should spend it. Interim Dean of Management Sandra N. Hurd is eager to put Whitman’s donation to good use, directing the funds to support faculty, staff and students. A more specific announcement about the plan will be made Sept 8.

While Management officials won’t say the exact amount Whitman donated, the school has announced that it is one of the largest gifts ever given to SU.

‘If a donor reaches a certain threshold, it’s considered a naming gift,’ Hurd said. ‘Consequently, a building is named after that donor.’

Hurd feels that the naming the school the Martin J. Whitman School of Management is significant because it shows continued success.

‘If you look at top schools in any discipline, the very good schools are named,’ Hurd said. ‘In a way, it sends a message about the quality of the school.’

Whitman currently serves as the chairman of the board of Third Avenue Management, a company that manages mutual funds and privately managed accounts.

‘Syracuse University contributed greatly to my success in the business world,’ Whitman said.

Published on August 25, 2003 at 12:00 pm