Amherst College in Amherst, Massachusetts, has announced a $100 million gift from an alumnus who wishes to remain anonymous to match "significant" contributions to the school's recently announced comprehensive fundraising campaign, which is roughly halfway to its $625 million goal.

In announcing the public phase of the campaign, the school revealed its plans to raise funds for increasing the size of its faculty as well as academic development initiatives, with an emphasis on STEM fields. Other goals include the hiring of additional staff for the Center for Writing and Public Speaking, the Center for Teaching and Learning, and the school's Counseling Center, as well as expanding the Loeb Center "Careers In ..." program and boosting funding for internships.

The campaign also will support Amherst's Annual Fund, with the goal of matching $80 million in alumni gifts to the fund.

"We are just expanding the faculty, and it's important to recognize that the needs of the institution change over time, so it's not only just for STEM, it's just what the institution needs right now," said Suzanne Newby-Estes, the college's executive director of advancement and campaign operations. "One hundred years from now it could be completely different."