The University of Wyoming announced last week the energy firm Hess Corporation donated $15 million to bolster research at the university, bringing the firm’s total investment in UW since 2013 to $25 million.
The new donation makes Hess the single largest corporate partner in university history. Gov. Matt Mead and UW President Dick McGinity joined Hess Chief Executive Officer John Hess and President and Chief Operating Officer Greg Hill last Thursday to announce the company’s gift.
“Hess Corporation has played a critical part in the groundbreaking research at the University of Wyoming,” Mead said. “Their continuing support is important to this research and to industry. It is also a statement of confidence in UW’s ongoing efforts to assure Wyoming’s place as an international leader in this field.” Hess’s donation is supporting further research and the building of UW’s new High Bay Research Facility, plus essential technology and equipment used in the facility for research into unconventional oil and gas reservoirs.
UW’s Chair of Faculty Senate Edward Janak said he has concerns about the implications of the donation.
“As chair of faculty senate, I think that Hess’ generosity should not go unremarked in hopes for further partnerships with the private sector,” Janak said. Janak said considering the ebbs and flows of the minerals industries that feed the state coffers, securing private funding sources is one way of combatting future shortcomings in state revenues to the university.
“That said, as I’ve asked during faculty senate meetings before, I question the overall emphasis on not just petroleum engineering that seems to be taking place around UW, but on the academic departments that fuel the minerals industries of the state,” Janak said. He also said while the university has a commitment to serving the state, including primary revenue generators, he questions why, when so many other agencies and philanthropies are divesting from these industries, UW seems to be “doubling down.”
“As a historian of education, my current line of research is looking at the role of philanthropy in funding public schools and universities, and what lessons we can draw from looking at the past, broadly speaking,” Janak said. “I’ve learned that too often, schools, including universities, accept the money with the mistaken idea that all money is good money.”
Janak said questioning the motives behind major donations is critical.
“The biggest question that we should be asking is ‘what’s in it for them?’ Corporations do nothing unless it benefits their bottom line somehow,” Janak said.
UW Foundation President Ben Blalock defended the donation, and said it expands UW’s research potential.
“This is a game changing donation,” Blalock said. “This investment allows UW to complete more type A research; to expand its energy research program, and for UW to have more research dollars. This is a major opportunity.”
Blalock said Janak is wrong to question the corporation’s commitment to the university.
“That is an outrageously false statement. They are very committed to our futures, particularly that of UW students,” Blalock said. “We will never back down from our work with our energy partners. They have a vast commitment to the University of Wyoming and to our state.”
Hess’s $15 million commitment includes $5 million for the High Bay Research Facility, $5 million for sponsored research on unconventional oil and gas reservoirs, $4.5 million for equipment and technology and $500,000 for laboratory performance development. The state will match $14.5 million of the donation.
Wyoming Governor Matt Mead and Hess Corporation Chief Executive Officer John Hess shake hands after an announcement Thursday, March 26, 2015 that the Hess Corporation made a 5 year commitment of 15 million dollars to the University of Wyoming bringing the total contributions from Hess to 25 million, making them the largest corporate donor in UW’s history.
