Celebrating 40 Years: The Annual Fund

Entrance to renovated Loray Mill, former textile mill converted to apartments. Views of a tour by UNC-Chapel Hill faculty and students of the Loray Mill project in Gastonia, NC.
Entrance to renovated Loray Mill, former textile mill converted to apartments. The Digital Innovation Lab supports the Digital Loray Mill Project with backing from the Annual Fund. Photo by Dan Sears.

The Arts and Sciences Annual Fund plays a central role in funding the College’s highest priorities—recruiting and retaining faculty, enhancing student opportunities, developing academic excellence and expanding global impact. This fund provides flexible support for departments and programs, and helps promote excellence across the College.  As such, gifts supporting the Annual Fund shape the experience of every Carolina student.

In 2014-2015, the Arts and Sciences Foundation Annual Fund was critical in funding many of the dean’s highest priorities, including:

  • Recruiting and retaining faculty—Last year, the Annual Fund helped retain 71 world-class faculty members from 29 departments, including chemistry, Romance studies and history.
  • Achieving global impact—Gifts to the Annual Fund support study abroad efforts, and sponsor programs in London, China, India and more. Last year 1,230 students took advantage of these opportunities, which introduced them to new cultures, people and possibilities.
  • Deepening academic excellence—The Annual Fund supports innovative programs like the Digital Innovation Lab, which promotes innovation, interdisciplinary collaboration, and engaged scholarship and research as it digitally preserves history.

The Annual Fund supports the College’s commitment to creating an outstanding academic environment and is essential for fulfilling the ambitious teaching, research and public service missions that make Carolina among the best public universities in the nation.

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