SON receives $45M legislative appropriation for Carrington Hall

On Wednesday, July 1, Governor Roy Cooper signed into law SB 212 allocating, among other things, $45 million to the UNC School of Nursing to help fund a renewal of Carrington Hall, appropriating $2.5 million in planning money for fiscal year 2021, with an additional $2.5 million should the federal government give the state flexibility to use the CARES Act for this purpose. No private matching dollars are required.

Carrington, the home of the School of Nursing since 1969, has been on the University’s short list for renovation or replacement since as early as 2006 when its primary systems, including electrical, HVAC, plumbing and roofing, were determined to be “beyond useful life” according to state facilities inspectors. By 2020, sixteen of its faculty offices and classrooms had been closed due to leaching asbestos.

“We are thrilled beyond words and so grateful to the legislature for meeting our very real need,” said Nena Peragallo Montano, DrPH, RN, FAAN, dean and professor of the School. “We are ranked the number one public school of nursing the nation, and are an invaluable resource to the state and to healthcare, but we have been teaching students in classrooms that leak, that often don’t have heat in the winter, that don’t have enough electrical outlets and that have significant ADA issues. These funds will finally enable us to plan and develop a facility worthy of the world class students, faculty and staff the UNC School of Nursing attracts. We can’t wait to get started.”

Members of the NC House of Representatives, including Speaker Tim Moore, Chair of the Appropriations Committee, Chuck McGrady, and Rep. Kelly Hastings visited the School in early June for a first-hand look at the facilities and worked quickly to advocate for the resulting appropriation.

Planning for the new facility will begin immediately.