Webster University on Wednesday announced a new capital fundraising campaign aimed at collecting $55 million for a variety of purposes, including a classroom building and new scholarships.

In reality, the campaign started in early 2003 and already has raised $45 million, the school said, while referring to the previous seven years as a "quiet phase."

Officials hope to capture the remaining $10 million by the end of 2011, when the campaign ends.

Among the projects being targeted by Webster Works: The Campaign for Webster:

• Upgrading facilities, including a new, 95,000-square-foot building that will house the George Herbert Walker School of Business and Technology. Webster also is developing a new science facility and is planning a renovation of the 66,400-square-foot Leif J. Sverdrup Building for the school of communications.

• Setting aside an unspecified portion of the funds for endowed scholarships and for faculty. Webster also seeks to bolster its music program.

• Directing money to the Annual Fund, which is used to underwrite annual tuition, pay for guest lecturers and assist students and faculty attending conferences.