SEMO university president Carlos Vargas announced the formal launch of the largest comprehensive funding campaign in the history of the university, with a final goal of 60 million dollars, on Oct. 13 at the Homecoming Kickoff Block Party.

The university president said donations from “ alumni and friends” of the university has caused the fundraising campaign to already reach 64% of the final goal.

According to Vargas, the money being raised will be distributed into academic technologies, facilities and athletics.

Some of these upgrades include:

— A new cyber command center for the cyber security center made possible through a partnership with IBM corporation

— A third building added to the river campus

— A new building for the health science program outfitted with advanced laboratories, which will be built where Dearmont Hall currently stands

— New additions to Houck Stadium including a new press box, and academic event and meeting spaces located on the east side of Houck Stadium

Vargas also mentioned the addition of a program for Multimedia Journalism majors and others, giving them the opportunity to report on Gray Media’s Spanish language news channel. Gray Media is a parent company of KFVS12.

“Our initiatives will strengthen our institution as a model of what a modern institution of higher education should be,” Vargas said.