Students and faculty see it everyday. They walk by it, on it, smell its aroma wafting through the Student Union, and even order it over the counter.

It is privatization and it has become a large part of university life.

The University of Arizona established a council last semester to look at ways it can further crunch the almighty dollar through privatization.

Areas already privatized include food service units inside the Student Union, house and groundskeeping units within facilities management, and even scuba lessons through the campus recreation center.

The council has identified three areas that could be privatized, said Michael Cusanovich, council chair and vice president for graduate studies and research.

Cusanovich would not reveal which areas have been identified because he has yet to inform the affected units and receive feedback from university staff. He said he will send out memos university-wide calling for volunteers to form privatization teams.

The council itself does not do all of the work, Cusanovich said. It basically serves as an oversight management team that identifies candidates for privatization.

Cusanovich said the process will be long and thought out. "You don't just willy-nilly privatize," he said.

The advantage to privatization, Cusanovich said, would be in having a service provided by the private sector more cheaply than can be done using university resources.

Right now 95 privatized units are operating on campus.

According to a memo released by the council, units are only considered for privatization if they;

• Are not critical to the university's mission, which requires unique qualifications or customer relationships;

• Are not statutory requirements that cannot be delegated;

• Are services or operations that are commonly available in the private sector;

• Are activities that would be more cost-efficient and/or provide better service if privatized;

• Would allow employees to continue working.

Cusanovich said academics and research definitely would not be considered because they are crucial to the UA's mission.