Universities get less funding, but seek more autonomy

From The New York Times: With states providing a dwindling share of money for higher education, many states and public universities are rethinking their ties. The public universities say that with less money from state coffers, they cannot afford the complicated web of state regulations governing areas such as procurement and building, and that they need more flexibility to compete with private institutions. As a result, the fundamental model for supporting higher education is being reconsidered, with many universities winning greater autonomy — sometimes even in setting tuition.