N.C. Gen. Stat. § 116-40
The Board of Governors shall use, as in its judgment may be proper, for the purposes of the University and for the benefit of education in agriculture and mechanic arts, as well as in furtherance of the powers and duties now or which may hereafter be conferred upon such Board by law, any funds, buildings, lands, laboratories, and other property which may be in its possession. The Board of Governors shall have power to accept and receive on the part of the State, property, personal, real or mixed, and any donations from the United States Congress to the several states and territories for the benefit of agricultural experiment stations or the agricultural and mechanical colleges in connection therewith, and shall expend the amount so received in accordance with the acts of the Congress in relation thereto.
N.C. Gen. Stat. § 116-40