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$12 million on academic buildings and programs

$15 million on residential facilities

$9 million on the outdoor athletic complex and aesthetic fence around campus

$9 million on student life and student center

$5 million on renovations and furnishings

$5 million on student aid

$5 million on communications.

The money is coming from:

$31 million in gifts and pledges received since January

$4 million in additional anticipated gifts

$15 million in borrowing on the bond market

$3 million in reserves

$7 million from the operating budget over three years.

Yes, Qubein is also a risk-taker.

But, in his view, the much greater risk was letting HPU drift toward decline.

Enrollment was falling, but this year's freshman class increased by 6 percent to 413. Qubein wants to bring that up to at least 500, eventually producing a full-time undergraduate enrollment of 2,000.

He's already working to improve the campus experience for students. Students returned this fall to better-furnished rooms and dorms, better landscaping, an upgraded cafeteria and lots of amenities, such as rocking chairs all over campus, patios with shaded tables and chairs, plasma TVs in the cafeteria and lounges, even hammocks.

One innovation is placement of posters all over campus. They feature photos of students and university events and change every couple of weeks. It's all part of creating a sense of fun and excitement, Qubein says.

Bigger projects include making the entire campus wireless, adding lighting everywhere to enhance appearance and safety, building a 100,000-square-foot dorm for freshmen with all private rooms in apartment/suites, building a new school of business, s student activity center and a soccer stadium, creating a park within the campus, placing sculptures at various locations, even an "Olympic Globe" in front of Roberts Hall -- altogether some 148 projects.

Oh, did I mention Qubein wants to start a football team? Nonscholarship, he says.

Also, watch for a big marketing campaign that will include full-page ads in such magazines as Forbes, Money and Fortune, billboards and a 38-foot mural at the airport.

And next year's commencement speaker? (Qubein got Rudy Giuliani this year.) He wouldn't say who it will be but teased his audience with this: The name will have "majesty" in front of it.

Qubein, a long-time High Pointer, emphasizes university-city connections. It's High Point's University, he proclaims. The new chairwoman of the board of trustees is another prominent High Pointer, Marsha Slane.

Guess what? High Point's leaders -- and they turned out in strength today -- are very enthusiastic. This small campus is rapidly becoming a big point of pride in High Point.

Well, a $60 million investment in two years will get your attention.