As public institutions funded by taxpayers, state colleges and universities are limited in the kinds of commercial activity in which they can participate. This is particularly so when it comes … Continue reading “University Foundations: A Convenient Way to Bypass Oversight”
In the past, I’ve been critical of commercial activity on North Carolina’s public university campuses. It competes with private business, attracts unfair tax advantages, and may (in some cases) violate … Continue reading “Howling Cow Ice Cream: An NC State Experiment in Hands-On Learning”
Late last year, NC State University purchased two small office buildings on Oberlin Road, near the university’s East campus, for the price of $3.1 million. Their location, situated between NC … Continue reading “Public Universities as Commercial Landlords: Where Do We Draw the Line?”
CHAPEL HILL – Approval of a proposed “millennial” campus at UNC-Wilmington will be on the agenda of the Board of Governors this week.
Board members, meeting in Chapel Hill June 7 and 8, will discuss UNC-Wilmington’s plans to create the Campus for Research, Entrepreneurship, Service and Teaching (CREST), a 210-acre campus at the university.
RALEIGH – Earlier this session, legislators passed a law that would make it easier for the University of North Carolina to compete with small businesses in college communities. The bill, HB 1539, which sets forth the changes to the Umstead Act, was opposed by several business leaders including several in Orange County.
The bill was unanimously passed by members of both the House and Senate. The Umstead Act is a 76-year-old provision that prohibits unfair state-supported competition with private companies.