OXFORD, N.C. (AP) – A college based on the teachings of philosopher-author Ayn Rand might come to Oxford.

The University of North Carolina Board of Governors, the ruling body for the state’s public universities, has received a request for the establishment of Founders College in Oxford. The board has to approve applications for private colleges in the state.

Two Duke University professors, Gary Hull and Eric Daniels, are involved with the College of Rational Education Inc., which would operate Founders College under Rand’s principles. The author of “Atlas Shrugged” emphasized the rights of the individual and laissez-faire capitalism.

After weeks of rumors, Mayor Al Woodlief mentioned the possibility of an Oxford site for Founders College last month at a city commissioners’ meeting.

Supporters of the college have also petitioned Maine to consider allowing a $26.4 million Founders College campus at Point Lookout near Northport on the Maine coast. Mike Saxl, legal counsel for Founders College campus proposed for Maine, said that campus would be a traditional liberal arts college.

The former Point Lookout conference center and corporate retreat was once owned by the MBNA credit card company.

Point Lookout, which was built by MBNA in the late 1990s, sits on about 400 acres on Ducktrap Mountain between Belfast and Camden and is now owned by Bank of America, which purchased MBNA effective Jan. 1.

Bank of America has put the property on the market. It has conference halls, residences, food service buildings, athletic fields, a fitness center and a gymnasium.