The Momentum Campaign: University of Dubuque Launches $150 Million Campaign to Strengthen the Student Experience

DUBUQUE, Iowa - The University of Dubuque has launched the Momentum Campaign, a three-year, $150 million comprehensive campaign to ensure future generations of Spartans have the resources, facilities, and opportunities to pursue lives of purpose and service.

From humble beginnings as a small seminary, UD has grown into a thriving campus that reflects the vision and dedication of generations who believe in its Mission. Each era has expanded opportunities for students and strengthened the community so many call their home away from home. The Momentum Campaign is the next step in that journey.

University President Travis L. Frampton, PhD, joined UD's Board of Trustees, faculty, staff, alumni, and friends to publicly announce the campaign during Homecoming festivities Thursday, October 2, 2025, in John and Alice Butler Hall, Heritage Center.

"For nearly 175 years, the University of Dubuque has embraced a calling greater than ourselves: to educate and form the whole person for lives of purpose and service. Each generation has carried this Mission forward with faith, hope, and courage," Frampton said. "Today, we stand at another defining moment in our history, one that will shape not only our campus, but the communities and world our graduates go on to serve. The Momentum Campaign is our opportunity to build on our remarkable legacy."

At the heart of the Momentum Campaign is a deep commitment to students. Investments will create new scholarships, modern facilities, innovative programs, and transformative experiences that prepare students for a world that desperately needs their leadership.

The quiet phase of the campaign has been marked by extraordinary generosity. Launched in early 2021 with a focus on building the endowment before expanding into a comprehensive effort in June 2024, the campaign has already secured nearly $118 million in commitments, laying a strong foundation of support and momentum as UD moves into the public phase of this historic campaign.

Two transformational gifts have boosted the Momentum Campaign.

As announced in December 2024, John (DHL'17) and Alice (DHL'17) Butler provided a $60 million commitment to help establish the John and Alice Butler College of Osteopathic Medicine (proposed, applicant seeking accreditation). This momentous lead gift is poised to create the first medical school in Iowa in over 125 years to bring needed support to the physician workforce. Located off campus in the heart of downtown Dubuque at 500 Main Street, the four-year medical school is on track to open its doors in summer 2028, pending accreditation through the American Osteopathic Association - Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation.

Another transformational investment was announced during the Momentum Campaign celebration Thursday. Joseph (C'68, DHL'98) and Linda Chlapaty donated a $35 million legacy gift ensuring UD continues to prepare students for meaningful careers while serving as a catalyst for innovation in the tri-state area and beyond as the college of the future. The Chlapaty Center for Innovation will be a dynamic interdisciplinary hub that encourages hands-on, experiential learning across disciplines such as health and medical sciences, aviation, business, communication, computer science, digital art and design, and fine arts.

"Joe and Linda have been longtime supporters of the University of Dubuque, and their impact on our campus has been extraordinary. The legacy gift announced today is a powerful testament to their continued belief in our Mission and their steadfast commitment to our students," said Scott Rima (C'01, MBA'21), interim vice president for advancement. "Throughout the years, the Chlapatys have answered the call time and again, often seeking little recognition for their generosity. Their vision and partnership have helped shape UD into the university it is today, and their leadership will continue to inspire generations."

The Chlapaty Center for Innovation will be a state-of-the art building complex with engineering labs, collaborative makerspaces, innovation arenas, and flexible learning environments all designed to put students at the center of the learning experience where they will learn by doing. Just as importantly, the space will serve as a gathering place for community leaders to come together and shape what's next - not only in education but in the workforce as well.

"The landscape of technology and its impact on the delivery of educational content necessitates that the University of Dubuque has the latest technological know-how and space to lead the school in innovation and engineering," said Joseph Chlapaty.

A ceremonial groundbreaking for the Chlapaty Center for Innovation was held after the Momentum Campaign announcement Thursday near Smith Hall, where the approximately 75,000-square-foot, five-story building will be located.

"The Chlapaty Center for Innovation is going to be a game-changer for the University of Dubuque," said Adam Hoffman, PhD, vice president for academic affairs. "It's a gift that will not only positively impact our campus but also the wider community. The learning ecosystems it will create will include spaces for all majors and will be a tremendous gift for all students - past, present, and future."

The transformational Chlapaty gift created momentum to take the first step towards a new engineering program - the first new undergraduate degree program at UD in nearly a decade. Earlier this semester, faculty voted to approve the development of an engineering program. Work will soon begin to develop the major and create the curriculum, classes, and assessments needed. Next year, faculty and the Board of Trustees are expected to vote to officially approve an engineering major, which would tentatively begin fall 2027. Such a major would create a practical degree to prepare students for in-demand careers and leverage existing strengths in other UD programmatic offerings to unlock opportunities unique to campus.

UD has always been defined by its people: alumni, friends, and partners who believe in the power of education to transform lives. The Momentum Campaign is an opportunity to secure that promise for generations to come. The campaign will remove barriers and build new spaces, strengthen faculty, harness technology, and sustain a vibrant university for the future - all while honoring the past and boldly preparing for what lies ahead.

"The University of Dubuque has always been a place where people of vision and courage come together to shape lives, communities, and futures. As a Board, we have the privilege of witnessing firsthand the transformational impact this University has on its students and the communities they go on to serve. This is a defining moment for UD - a moment when history and opportunity meet. The Momentum Campaign represents more than a financial goal; it represents our shared commitment to securing the future of an institution whose Mission continues to resonate as powerfully today as it did almost 175 years ago," said Douglas Horstmann (C'75), MBA, chair of UD's Board of Trustees, and Rev. Cathy (Foster) Young (MDiv'89), chair of the Advancement and External Affairs Committee, in a joint statement.

The Momentum Campaign will conclude on December 31, 2028. Donors may make their gifts in pledges for up to five years. To be part of the Momentum Campaign to help chart the future and change the course of history, please contact UD's Office of Advancement at [email protected] or 563.589.3158. For more information, please visit https://www.dbq.edu/momentum.

"The Momentum Campaign is about more than buildings, scholarships, or technology, it is about people. It is about our students, faculty, staff, and alumni who embody the spirit of the University of Dubuque. It is about the communities who benefit from their leadership and service. And it is about our partners whose generosity make our Mission possible," Frampton said. "We unite in support of one Mission. I invite you to join us in this moment for momentum, as we honor our past and courageously adventure into the future together."