Colleges and universities in the US and Canada are likely to funnel more of their $411bn (€274bn, £207bn) in endowment assets into alternative investments in a hunt for the high returns that would cover spending increases.
Lawmakers are demanding that universities and colleges spend more of their burgeoning funds on student aid, saying endowments - and presidents' bonuses - are growing fatter while tuition costs are skyrocketing. They are threatening to impose a spending minimum, similar to foundations' annual required 5 per cent payout.