The University of Pittsburgh has announced an innovative agreement totaling $40 million from alumnus David C. Frederick (’83) in support of the University College at Oxford University in England as well as Pitt’s Honors College.

The commitment, which will name the David C. Frederick Honors College at Pitt, includes $35 million to help pay for Univ North at Oxford’s University College, a landscape-driven multigenerational community featuring up to 150 en suite study bedrooms, a cafe, gym, study, meeting and lecture spaces, a nursery with outdoors space for up to 54 children, and an existing residential home for seniors. As part of the agreement, University College will make a 50-year commitment to distribute income generated from the completed development to the University of Pittsburgh for the Honors College.

The remaining $5 million will support Pitt outright and help create a permanent endowment valued at more than $65 million. The gift will enable the Honors College to build partnerships with Oxford as well as fund experiences such as study abroad and study away scholarships, stipends for internships and research, and participation in conferences.

An alumnus of the Honors College, Frederick was Pitt’s first Rhodes Scholar and studied at Oxford from 1983 to 1986. A longtime supporter of Pitt, Frederick established the William Stanton Award in the Department of History, the G. Alec Stewart Endowed Student Research Fund in the University Honors College, and the William J. Keefe Congressional Fellowships.

“Sophie and I are delighted to participate in an innovative philanthropic model that benefits two important institutions where I spent many happy years as a student,” said Frederick. “The University of Pittsburgh Honors College will derive substantial and enduring benefits from this arrangement, which also will ensure modern, multi-purpose facilities for University College, Oxford, where students can flourish and deepen their sense of community with the college and city of Oxford. Our hope is that the project will enrich the educational experience in an inclusive way at both institutions for many decades to come.”

(Photo credit: Getty Images/Zodebala)