This book, described by a 15-year clerical employee, in 1997 set forth criteria which the medical school FMO needed to meet. A year later, she said, these criteria had been almost entirely met.

The proposal outlining requirements for companies (including the FMO) interested in serving HMS facilities was simply an recycled version of the "greenbook," she said.

But Gibbons emphasized that all bidders were considered equally.

"The FMO's response to the proposal was not as strong as the other bidders," Gibbons said.

One concern expressed by employees was that they maintain similar benefits, including the significantly reduced tuition at the extension school.

Although Tramell offers tuition reimbursements and scholarship programs for employee children, it remains unclear what specific educational benefits employees themselves will receive.

"[Tramell will] need to sit down and discuss something with the extension school," Buehrens said.

One advantage of Tramell, according to Gibbon, is that while the company is not in the business of general education, it can offer job-specific training to its employees.