By The Associated Press

INDIANAPOLIS — Marian University's plans to open an engineering school have gotten a $24 million boost from a family which owns a company that makes custom, die-cut components for several industries.

The Indianapolis school announced the gift from the Witchger family last week. Officials said the university was now halfway to its $50 million fundraising goal for the engineering school, following more than $1 million that's been raised from several other donors.

The planned E.S. Witchger School of Engineering will be named for the Witchger family’s patriarch. The family owns and operates Indianapolis-based Marian Inc., which supplies parts for the medical, electronics and automotive industries.

Money raised to date will go toward start-up costs, including facilities and equipment, endowed scholarships, endowed faculty positions, curriculum design and student recruitment, the Indianapolis Business Journal reported.

The university expects the school’s first class will be welcomed in fall 2022. After graduating its first class, the university can seek approval from the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology.

The school’s degrees will concentrate in electrical and computer engineering, mechanical engineering and chemical engineering.

School President Daniel J. Elsener said opening its own engineering school will allow degree completion to be more efficient.