Office of the President

Great news to share - a $10 million gift

Carol and Jim Collins have been friends of Cal Poly Pomona for more than 30 years, and their generosity has been pivotal to the growth and success of our students. It is my great pleasure to announce that they have made a transformative gift of $10 million to establish the Carol and James A. Collins Excellence Endowment. This new fund will support innovation at The Collins College of Hospitality Management and prepare our students to be change agents and positive contributors to the hospitality industry for decades to come.

Carol and Jim CollinsThe growth and national reputation of The Collins College are a direct result of Carol and Jim’s longtime philanthropic support and their belief in the power of education to shape lives and better communities. What started as a department in the College of Business Administration in 1973 with 30 students and two faculty members has grown into one of the nation’s premier hospitality colleges with more than 1,100 undergraduate and graduate students.

Carol and Jim’s latest gift to the university is remarkable, but it is no surprise based on what remarkable people they both are. If you want to see how they have influenced their family, friends and the community, I encourage you to review this website highlighting his personal story.

Cal Poly Pomona is fortunate to have Carol and Jim as benefactors, and we are fortunate to call them friends.

Soraya M. Coley
President
Cal Poly Pomona