(07-07-2021 02:29 PM)eastisbest Wrote:  

(07-07-2021 09:36 AM)PaulJ Wrote:  

(07-06-2021 08:55 PM)eastisbest Wrote:  

(07-06-2021 07:56 PM)DetroitRocket Wrote:  Blade: By refinancing its parking operations, the university will get an up-front cash payment of $50 million to be invested through the University of Toledo Foundation, and $10 million for capital improvements, plus another $40 million over the life of the agreement for capital improvements. The university expects to generate about $70 million in excess cash to be used for strategic initiatives and mission-critical operations.

Ohio State and EMU have been doing something similar.

All of which implies there were revenue generating opportunities or efficiencies UT wasn't realizing or they gave something to a friend. This is privatized turnpike all over. What is public and what is private? Is that line coded somewhere? Can we privatize Admin and campus policing too? I'm sure private business could do it better but should the public lose control of public capital like this?

What is the "life" of the agreement and why is any of this filtered though the Foundation? Not that I have anything against Foundation. I do not see how this is within their perview. They are not a state entity. Do they have a piece of the land?

Plenty of public colleges (including in Ohio) have privatized parking services-what UT is doing is not unique in that regard. I believe by making the arrangements through UT Foundation, funds can be invested as UT as institution does not invest its cash reserves.

I wasn't thinking so much that it was unique regards privatizing parking as I was wondering what all parts of University management will eventually be privatized, while still keeping the university public.

Universities seem to be shifting to corporate model, deciding what to do internally vs what to oursource. Then eventually out-sourcing Administation of all those out-sources.

out-sourcing of admin services is certainly a trend in higher education as seen by some HR functions, parking services, policing, student residences, food services and catering etc.... it may be a disconcerting and alarming trend but with state funding down considerably in last two decades, colleges are forced to turn to other means of generating revenue. Not that I agree with the trend but it is happening and for valid financial reasons.