(Source: University of Illinois)

Another week, another $100 million gift in Illinois. As I reported last week, the University of Chicago received a nine-figure gift for scholarships. This time it's the University of Illinois, which will use the money to support bioengineering, stem-cell research and alternative energy, according to the Chronicle of Higher Education.

The donor, Thomas Siebel, is an Illinois alumnus and computer-systems entrepreneur. In 1999, he gave the university $32 million.

This new gift kicks off a $2.25 billion campaign for Illinois. Pretty good start to the public phase, I'd say.