Estimated read time: Less than a minute
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
ATLANTA (AP) — Georgia is on course to become one of the nation's largest experiments in privatized college dorms, but it's unclear whether the changes will lower students' bills at a time when university costs are soaring.
The new arrangements would lease to private companies the future revenue streams from the dorms — essentially student rent. In exchange, companies would oversee maintenance, and also take on responsibility for any existing debt on leased properties.
The state's university system has been planning the changes since 2012.
In recent years, universities nationwide have begun turning to private developers to replace 1950s-era housing as states cut budgets and send less money to universities.
Student housing on nine campuses is included in the privatization plan backed by the Georgia system's governing body, the Board of Regents.
Copyright © The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
