<p>So ,the administration at U of Virginia is making hints about going private to free itself from legislative (i.e. political) influence, since the state contributes relatively few taxpayer funds to the school's budget.</p>
<p>Privatization seems to be advocated mostly by UVA supporters who want the school "to upgrade" so it can be more favorably compared to places like Princeton (or so it said in another post on CC). Can it work? I don't think so. A few years ago, die hard alumni and friends of Virginia Military Institute tried to privatize the school in order to avoid the non-discrimination lawsuits from female applicants. Same thing at The Citadel. Both ideas flopped because starting a private college is a tremendous financial undertaking and The state/public has to be reimbursed for the loss of its assets.</p>
<p>Also, there would be nothing to stop the state from chartering an entirely new "University of Virginia," and thereby putting a glaring pockmark in the original school's profile.</p>