Wayne State University unveiled its latest fundraising campaign today, a $750 million initiative called Pivotal Moments: Our Campaign for Wayne State University.

The school plans to complete the campaign in 2018 to coincide with the school’s 150th anniversary.

WSU President M. Roy Wilson told Crain’s on Tuesday that the goal is to lift the school into the top ranks of public urban research universities in the U.S.

“Our vision is to become a preeminent public research university, and to do that, we have a lot of lifting to do,” he said. “This is only the second campaign for the school in close to 150 years. Most universities have had a number of campaigns, so we’re pretty far behind the eight ball. We’ve got to make fund-raising a big part of what we do.”

The school began what development professionals call the “silent phase” in the campaign in 2009 and has raised $357.2 million so far, including a commitment of $8.5 million in July for the school’sfrom Michael and Marian Ilitch.

A 10 a.m. Wednesday news conference launched the public portion of the campaign.

“The philanthropic dollars that you get in a campaign should be aspirational and let you reach for something you typically spend money on. It’s not a replacement for tuition dollars or a loss of state money,” said Wilson.

Wilson said money from the campaign will, among other things, fund:

The $40 million Hilberry Theatre gateway project, which will involve building a new 450-seat theater on Cass Avenue, renovation of the current theater, a former church built in 1916; and the moving of the historic David Mackenzie House on Cass, a Queen Anne-style mansion built in 1895, to another place on campus.

gateway project, which will involve building a new 450-seat theater on Cass Avenue, renovation of the current theater, a former church built in 1916; and the moving of the historic on Cass, a Queen Anne-style mansion built in 1895, to another place on campus. The funding of endowed chairs to recruit renown researchers and their teams to the new Integrative Biosciences Center, IBio for short, in the old Dalgleish Cadillac building across from TechTown. Construction on the building is about half done and scheduled for completion next spring.

“You need endowed chairs to attract researchers and populate the building,” said Wilson. “The goal on the science side to put to focus on endowments so you can attract good researchers.”

Endowed scholarships, internships, study abroad and other programs for students.

WSU’s first capital campaign was launched in 2005 and concluded Dec. 31, 2008, having raised $484.4 million plus a $407.8 million in-kind PACE (Partners for the Advancement of Collaborative Engineering Education) gift, for a total of $892.2 million.

Money from that campaign was used to build the, the, theand the

Wilson said that all of the economic activity in Detroit now — including the growing tech hub in downtown Detroit, the M-1 rail line along Woodward, the city’s impending emergence from bankruptcy and various projects by Mayor Mike Duggan — reinforces the decision to launch a public campaign, now.

“In terms of timing, what better time than right now in Detroit? The city is being revitalized and it’s a great time to capitalize on that,” he said

“This is a good time to invest in Wayne State,” said Chacona Johnson,vice president for development and alumni affairs. “Our university is literally educating our future and we must ensure we are doing so in a way that best prepares our graduates to be successful in an increasingly global and competitive society.

“Donor support can help enhance the student experience and provide funding for endowed scholarships, as well as programs and initiatives not typically covered by tuition.”

The school announced the launch of the public campaign today at the university’s. Speakers included Debbie Dingell, chair of the board of governors; Wilson, Chacon and Duggan.

That kicked off a series of events and showcase of tours of campus facilities on Thursday. The tours from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. include the; the; the; theand the; the School of Medicine; the; the; and public radio station

Wilson is to speak at the Hilberry at 4 p.m. Thursday, with a gala at 6 p.m. in theand a night of music, dancing and food trucks 8-11 p.m. in the Reuther Mall on campus.

Friday, at 10:30 a.m., the school will host a brunch for alumni celebrating graduation milestones at the Alumni House.

For more information on parking, events and shuttles to the various venues, visit go.wayne.edu/giving-campaign

As of June 30, WSU’s endowment totaled $313 million.

Tom Henderson: (313) 446-0337, [email protected] Twitter: @tomhenderson2