Not long ago, colleges questioned whether they should outsource some campus operations. Now they ask whether they can afford not to.
Rosalind Meyers of Georgia Tech, which brought in Barnes & Noble to manage its store: "We know how to run a college bookstore, but we are not retailers in the sense of competing in the larger market." (Photograph by Michael Schwarz)

• SUMMER PROGRAMS: Colleges rely on outside expertise to coordinate their programs for high-school stuudents.
• CONFERENCE CENTERS: The use of college campuses as conference venues is on the rise.
• WHO NEEDS HBO? A private company provides closed-circuit movies to about 200 colleges.
• SURVEY: A study of outsourcing trends shows that costs are down and revenues are up.

Privatized building and management of student housing has logistical benefits but can raise questions about financial liability.

Do-it-all ID cards are convenient, but do they become too corporate when banking services are added?

Commentary

Outsourcing can make sense, says Paul Davies, but go into it with your eyes open.
(Illustration by Tim Foley)

George H. Mitchell explains how he's kept the University of Texas bookstore independent.

Stephen D. Blom and Stephen L. Beckley explore six major challenges facing student health programs.