Spending Priorities of UNC-CH Hard to Pin Down

At the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, “high priority” projects and “emergency” needs apparently mean two different things. Even as buildings “crumble” and outdated labs go unrenovated — those things deemed “emergency” needs for UNC-CH under a $3 billion bond proposal to the General Assembly last July — UNC-CH announced last week that it will use $28.6 million in unrestricted grants (a gift from 1949 UNC-CH graduate David B. Clayton) to fund “high priority” projects. These projects differ drastically from the school’s “emergency” needs as outlined under the $3 billion bond proposal. And, in fact, none of the grant money will be used to fund such “emergency” needs.

UNC-CH’s “emergency” needs as outlined under the Michael K. Hooker Higher Education Finance Facilities Act.

Murphy Hall – Renovations $6,403,317
Institute of Marine Sciences 1,746,000
Interdisciplinary Physical Sciences Building 59,000,000
Carrington Hall, School of Nursing – Addition 5,873,000
School of Public Health 28,900,000
Memorial Hall 12,000,000
Biomolecular Research Bldg., School of Med. 26,718,000
R.D. Smith Middle School Wing, School of Ed. 1,442,896
Administrative Office Building 7,005,200
Infrastructure/Technology Improvements 15,654,531
Digital Multimedia Instructional Center 12,000,000
Academic Facilities Renovations 26,000,000
Technology Infrastructure Expansion 3,777,350