It was a record year for the Kansas University Endowment Association.

At $68.9 million, endowment support for the university in fiscal year 2002 increased 6 percent from the previous record, $65.1 million in 2000.

In addition, donors contributed the second-highest total ever, with $62.1 million.

The news was announced Friday at the 111th annual meeting of the KU Endowment board of trustees.

The KU Endowment’s fiscal year runs from July 1 to June 30.

Support for the university continues to increase in several areas. Student support during the past year grew from $25.4 million in 2001 to $27.2 million in 2002, an increase of 7 percent. Support for faculty and staff rose from $20 million in 2001 to $22.9 million in 2002, a 14.5 percent increase.

Robert Eaton, left, retired chairman of DaimlerChrysler, and Fred Williams, president of the Kansas University Alumni Association, engage in a conversation during the KU Endowment Association luncheon. The Endowment Association's 111th annual meeting and related events were Friday in Lawrence.

Total giving of $62.1 million followed last year’s record of $92 million, which included a $42 million pledge from the Hall Family Foundation.

According to the most recent comparisons, KU Endowment ranks 56th among 610 participating U.S. and Canadian institutions, 18th among state-assisted institutions and fourth among Big 12 universities.

The value of the KU Endowment’s total assets decreased by 7 percent in 2002 from $1.09 billion to $1.02 billion. Officials said the decrease resulted from an overall decline in investment returns consistent with widespread market losses.

Giving to KU First: Invest in Excellence, the comprehensive fund-raising campaign currently under way, has reached $358 million. The campaign goal is $500 million.