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NCCU Year
in Pictures

NCCU home

By Ed Boyce
Echo Editor-in-Chief

 
North Carolina’s public universities and community colleges sent out a cry for help and voters answered the call, passing the $3.1 billion higher education bond Nov. 7.
 
With 73 percent of the vote, North Carolinians overwhelmingly approved the bond package that would give $2.5 billion to 16 public universities and $600 million to the community colleges.

N.C. Central will receive $118,697,200 for renovations, repairs, and land acquisition, including a $36 million science complex.

“I guess about 70 percent of our existing facilities would be repaired under this bond issue,” said NCCU Chancellor Julius Chambers. “The Farrison-Newton Building – you’ve got speech and hearing moving out into the Education Building. We’ve got to make repairs in the Farrison-Newton Building, including repairs in the roof. We’re going to tear down the Jordan House. We’re going to repair B.N. Duke and the Music Building.” 

Many schools will use the money to increase faculty salaries and deal with expected enrollment increases of 30 percent in the 10 years.

The Universities are eager to start spending soon.

The University of North Carolina Board of Governors will consider a $2 billion budget request that will include $258 million in spending next year.

Included in the proposal are a 16 percent boost for the 2000 budget and a 4 percent tuition increase for most students.

The State Board of Community Colleges has proposed a $951 million budget.

Starting next year, the bonds will be issued over a six-year period with an oversight committee monitoring the spending.