Fueled by substantial increases in government grants and giving by college trustees, Columbia recorded the best fundraising total in its history in fiscal year 2007.

According to Eric Winston, vice president of institutional advancement, the college raised more than $13.5 million in the fiscal year that ended on August 31, 2007. The figures are as yet unaudited.

Trustee giving jumped by $1.7 million, while government grants grew by $2.2 million. Corporate giving was up by $900,000. The increase in trustee giving may be associated with excitement surrounding the upcoming construction of the college’s first new-construction building, the Media Production Center, for which planning is currently under way.