LTCC receives $5 million donation from local woman to build a University Center

A historic donation was made to the Lake Tahoe Community College today, enabling the school to build the Robert Maloff University Center on campus in preparation for offering four year degrees. LTCC has applied to be part of a state pilot program that will bring in baccalaureate degrees to 15 community colleges, beginning with at least one program at each school.

The center will provide access to upper-division level educational opportunities and academic support services made possible through partnerships with other institutions. Both private and public colleges and universities have been invited to provide baccalaureate programs at LTCC to ensure access to these degrees to residents of the local community.

The LTCC Board of Trustees accepted the "very generous donation" from Lisa Maloff in memory of her husband Robert. The Maloffs moved to South Lake Tahoe in 1958 and have been lifelong advocates for providing the opportunity for a quality education for all students. “Lake Tahoe Community College already provides a great education. But I believe in extending those terrific services to even more students,” says Maloff.

This is the largest single donation the college has received and rivals those given to large universities in the country.

The college budgeted $825,000 of Measure F bond money to pilot a University Center from an existing building on campus. Thanks to Lisa Maloff’s generous donation, LTCC is now planning on constructing a brand-new, stand-alone University Center.

LTCC’s Measure F bond effort was designed around the concept of taking $55 million in tax-payer dollars and leveraging that into significantly more dollars through private donations and matching state grants. “Success breeds more success. Thanks to Measure F passing, we’re now in a position to show donors interested in supporting higher education locally that our college and community are serious about building a premier destination college in South Lake Tahoe,” says Dr. Murillo.

The budget for the Lisa and Robert Maloff University Center at LTCC includes costs for architect and engineering plans, building permits, inspections, construction costs, and furniture and equipment. The result would be a 5,500 sq. ft. building with three classrooms, offices, a meeting room, and restrooms and mechanical space, located close to the Fine Arts building where the Duke Theatre is housed. Some of the particulars of this plan could change depending on which institutions the college partners with, and what degrees they offer.

Longtime Board of Trustee member Roberta Mason, who was a key figure in the creation of LTCC and who has served as a trustee for all 40 of the college’s years in existence, has known the Maloffs for decades. Mason’s husband, Bob, provided architectural services to Maloff, and the two men were friends for many years.
With this donation and the voters’ support of Measure F, Mason, who is set to retire as trustee in December, will be leaving the college’s service on a very high note. “I am so excited that LTCC will be able to provide this fantastic educational opportunity to our students and community, to further their studies right here at home thanks to this extremely generous donation,” says Mason. “It will also add another ‘clean’ business to the economy of South Lake Tahoe. This is all so exciting, I almost regret retiring! I can never thank Lisa enough for making this dream come true.”