(from the Hechinger Report) A growing number of small, private, highly tuition-dependent higher-education organizations are teaming up with neighboring schools in a bid to reduce operational costs while expanding offerings. Strategies include practices such as shared libraries, group purchasing power and collectively operating shuttle buses, campus security, course offerings and classroom space. "Working together, we can raise productivity and lower out-of-pocket expenses," said Ronald Johnson, president of Clark University, a member of the Atlanta University Consortium.
Nearly 100 private colleges belong to the Higher Education Systems and Services Consortium, up from five at the group's founding three years ago. Approaches such as collective purchasing can save institutions as much as 25 pecent on expenses like utilities and technology, said Keith Fowlkes, the consortium's founder and vice president.
More at the Hechinger Report
Related on NetAssets.org: Stronger Together: the Case for School Mergers
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