Colleges respond to rising costs with consortia, contractors, and ingenuity.
Yoke San L. Reynolds of the U. of Virginia has added variable-rate debt as a tool to save money. (Photograph by Tom Cogill)

IN THE LOOP: Five colleges band together, literally, for savings on beefed-up network capacity.

VOLUME DISCOUNT: Consortia allow academic libraries to pool their resources.

CALCULATED RISK: Indiana University uses a "captive" company to free itself from sky-high insurance premiums.

GROUP THERAPY: Seven colleges in Oregon set up a collective health-insurance plan for their employees.

PAY TO PLAY: Students at many public universities have a say in, but also must bankroll, their nonacademic facilities.

Q&A: A scholar who studies the competition for status in higher education discusses the race to build on campuses.

KEEPING THEIR COOL: The University of Pennsylvania controls its energy costs through innovative contracts, a command center, and two versatile chiller units.

AN OUNCE OF PREVENTION: Catholic University has been at the forefront of preventive law.

Commentary

William D. Coplin proposes seven ways for colleges to cut their teaching costs.

WORRISOME SYMPTOMS: Student health insurance hasn't become a major cost driver yet, says Robin Wagner, but that may be about to change.