The UNLV School of Medicine may move forward with constructing a 50,000-square-foot library as it continues fundraising for a classroom building, the head of the Nevada System of Higher Education told the Clark County Commission on Tuesday.

Chancellor Thom Reilly said he thinks there is “emerging consensus” that the medical school project should be split in two parts rather than waiting an indefinite period of time, which could jeopardize the land deal and funding.

The commission approved a resolution in June 2016 that transferred nine acres of county-owned land to NSHE for the medical school facility. The resolution stipulated that NSHE must begin construction on the property within five years. On top of that looming deadline, Reilly said the governor’s office could repurpose the $25 million given for the building project if it’s not used in a timely manner.

The UNLV medical school has banked $50 million for its building project. That amount consists of $25 million from an anonymous donor as well as a $25 million match made by state lawmakers during the 2017 legislative session.

Reilly said higher education officials will seek approval from the Interim Finance Committee to begin construction on the health sciences library, which has an estimated cost of $57 million.

“I’m hoping that at that Oct. 24 meeting, we’ll have the blessing of the Interim Finance Committee to move forward on the first project over at Shadow Lane,” he said.

The second phase of the capital project would be a 182,000-square-foot teaching and education building for the fledgling medical school. The UNLV Foundation continues to fundraise for that building, he said.

Earlier this year, UNLV officials acknowledged that fundraising efforts for the medical school project had fallen short of targets. Tension between the Board of Regents and former UNLV President Len Jessup, who departed in June, complicated the philanthropic endeavor. The medical school lost a $14 million private donation that was contingent upon Jessup remaining as the university president.

Reilly also told commissioners that the Board of Regents is seeking $14.3 million in state funding to fully staff the medical school. The additional funding would bring the state’s commitment to the medical school to $72.3 million so far.

The UNLV School of Medicine recently welcomed its second class of students.