Peter Blake reports on new legislations and reforms in Virginia that provide colleges and universities more operational and administrative autonomy in return for their commitment to public goals for higher education. He traces the history and context of privatization in Virgina from 1988. During this time, the legislatively mandated Virginia Commission on the University of the 21st Century has issued a report that sought to answer the question: "How can Virginia make constructive and fundamental change within its colleges and universities so they will be ready to meet the demands of life in the 21st Century?" Throughout 2002 and 2003, a "chartered universities initiative" was explored by the Governor, Mark Warner's office with College of William and Mary, the University of Virginia, and Virginia Tech to develop plans for a significant restructuring of their relationship with the state. In 2005, a 32-page bill that amended 13 sections of the Code of Virginia was enacted. Under the bill, all institutions will gain increased authority to act with little or no prior approval from central state government. Blake also describes the role of Governor Mark Warner's administration in serving the the state during a time when its colleges and universities had strong, committed leadership and the State Council of Higher Education was reemerging as a constructive force. An introduction by Governor Mark Warner is also presented at the beginning of this article.