Opinion No. 822: Does North Carolina Need an Optometry School? There is no good reason why the taxpayers of North Carolina should pay for the building of an optometry school at Pembroke. George Leef
News UNC-P Optometry School Questioned CHAPEL HILL — UNC-Pembroke leaders are in the development stages of a proposed School of Optometry — a school some say is unneeded given the prospect for a surplus of optometrists in the country. Already, $10 million in state funding has been appropriated for UNC-Pembroke to plan and develop the new school. According to UNC-Pembroke Vice President for University and Community Relations Glen Burnette, that money cannot be used until the UNC Office of the President gives the proposal the green light. UNC-Pembroke officials are scheduled to meet with UNC officials by the end of the month in an effort to obtain approval.