On the University of Virginia’s website, next to a photo of parents of current students, there is a plea to join them in supporting school traditions by signing up for the Parents Committee; a separate link prompts parents to contribute $2,500 to $25,000 annually. … It used to be that alumni were the main focus of fund-raising from their alma maters, but that is less so nowadays. With endowments in the doldrums and government funding curtailed at state universities, colleges both public and private are stepping up efforts to tap parents of current students for donations in ways pr...