Advocates for public higher education sometimes describe various state plans as efforts to de facto privatize colleges and universities. In Illinois, a Republican legislator has proposed a plan that would literally privatize the state's universities, The News-Gazette reported. The state would give up control over them and instead shift state appropriations to a forgivable loan program for students to pay tuition. Students who graduate in four years would have half their loan forgiven. Then for each year a graduate lives in the state, another eighth of the loan would be forgiven. Those who drop out would have to pay back their loans over a 10-year period. State Senator Bill Brady, sponsor of the bill, admitted that it needed work, but said that it "elevates the discussion" about the future of higher education.
