Special to the Journal

On Thursday, Sept. 16, from 6 to 9 p.m. in Peace Hall Room 127, the Albany State University College of Business will hold a phone-a-thon to raise funds to purchase textbooks for its students taking core courses.

Dr. Kathaleena Edward Monds, interim dean for the College of Business, got the idea after reading an article in the Chronicle of Higher Education, which featured Virginia State University’s business school and its mission to buy electronic-based textbooks, or e-books, for its students. Students complained about the cost of textbooks, and teachers were weary of students performing poorly because they could not afford the textbooks. That’s when the Virginia State business school tried something new.

Monds and the College of Business have a specific goal for the phone-a-thon.

“Our goal may seem far-fetched, but we want to raise $100,000,” Monds said. “We want to get 100 people to give $1,000, or 200 people to give $500 or in any increment.”

The phone-a-thon will target College of Business alumni. With a roster going back to 1949 when the first degree was awarded, there’s a long list of alumni to contact.

Another goal for this fundraiser is to get current students active in networking and connecting with previous graduates.

“Our motto is ‘We prepare professionals,’ and I believe we will discover there are corporate leaders who came from little and are now on high paths,” Monds said.

By alumni receiving personal phone calls, Monds strongly believes the personal connection will inspire people to give back.

Although textbook costs are the main concern, the College of Business would also like to use the money raised to fund scholarships, pay fees for the Honor’s Day Convocation, market the College, and develop a brand for the College of Business.

This will be the first phone-a-thon conducted by the College of Business. The fundraiser is a student and faculty project that will require 60-80 volunteers. Volunteers will be needed for 30-minute to one-hour rotations on 20 phone lines.

Persons interested in volunteering should contact Monds by e-mail at Kathaleena.Monds@asurams.edu by Sept. 13.