For immediate use
UNC-Chapel Hill will use $3.5 million gift to further campus cost savings and reinvest in academics
(Chapel Hill, N.C.— Oct. 19, 2015) – Julian H. Robertson Jr., distinguished University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill alumnus and entrepreneur, has committed $3.5 million over three years to his alma mater to support its ongoing effort to identify and implement operational efficiency initiatives that can help advance Carolina’s academic mission. The funding builds on Carolina Counts, a fiscal-efficiency program launched in 2009 to streamline campus operations and processes, which has saved North Carolina taxpayers more than $160 million to date.
UNC will match Robertson’s substantial donation with other private contributions and non-state institutional funds to expand Carolina’s work with Huron Consulting Group.
“Carolina is so grateful to have Julian as a partner in this critical work,” said Chancellor Carol L. Folt. “We both agree that every dollar matters — and every dollar saved can be reinvested to support Carolina’s academic mission.”
The additional resources will further enable UNC-Chapel Hill to build a world-class faculty, recruit and retain talented graduate and undergraduate students, encourage entrepreneurship and bolster the research that is vital to the state and educational enterprise.
“Congratulations to Chancellor Folt and her administration for their continued commitment to operational efficiency,” Robertson said. “I’m making this gift because I know the returns from this investment will further enrich Carolina’s excellent academic experience.”
Robertson, chairman and general partner of Tiger Management, LLC, of New York, graduated from UNC in 1955 with a degree in business administration and has been a generous supporter of his alma mater. Most notably, in 2000, he joined his late wife Josie to create the prestigious Robertson Scholars Leadership Program with a $24 million gift.
Huron, which has offices in North America and abroad, is currently working with UNC Hospitals to boost their operational efficiency. The company has advised numerous U.S. colleges and universities in their efforts to make the most of their resources, including Duke University, the University of California at Berkeley, the University of Virginia and the University of Michigan.
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About the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, the nation’s first public university, is a global higher education leader known for innovative teaching, research and public service. A member of the prestigious Association of American Universities, Carolina regularly ranks as the best value for academic quality in U.S. public higher education. Now in its third century, the University offers 78 bachelor’s, 112 master’s, 68 doctorate and seven professional degree programs through 14 schools and the College of Arts and Sciences. Every day, faculty – including two Nobel Laureates, staff and students shape their teaching, research and public service to meet North Carolina’s most pressing needs in every region and all 100 counties. Carolina’s more than 308,000 alumni live in all 50 states and 150 countries. More than 167,000 live in North Carolina.
Office of Development contact: Scott Ragland, (919) 962-0027, scott_ragland@unc.edu
Communications and Public Affairs contact: MC VanGraafeiland, (919) 962-7090, mc.vangraafeiland@unc.edu