GCSU braces for budget cuts
Allison Bramlett
Issue date: 3/5/10 Section: Campus News
After weeks of discussion about state funding of Georgia's higher education system, GCSU President Dorothy Leland released a budget plan that could possibly cut an additional $5,356,378 from GCSU's budget, according to the Board of Regents. The plan calls for a total budget reduction of over $9 million for the 2011 fiscal year.
Every institution in the University System of Georgia was asked to submit a budget listing of what each university or college would have to cut if the state reduced the system's budget by an additional $300 million. The reductions would be in addition to the $265 million already cut from the system by Gov. Sonny Perdue. These "worst-case scenario" budgets were to be created under the assumption that tuition would not be raised.
GCSU's worst-case scenario budget would eliminates 23 staff and 17 faculty positions. The reduction of the faculty positions, a 6 percent decrease in GCSU faculty, would result in the elimination of several degrees. While many University System institutions listed the degrees that were at risk, Leland said she felt it would be "premature" for GCSU to list specific degrees.
The elimination of positions could threaten the national accreditation of certain programs, such as nursing, education and business, because the programs require a certain student-faculty ratio.
Also incorporated into the worst-case scenario budget is a reduction of 1 percent in the operating budget, which is where funding for the repair and replacement of equipment, including technology, comes from.
If the university's budget gets cut the highest possible amount, GCSU plans on using almost $3 million of its financial reserves set aside for emergencies. According to the budget plan, this "exposes the institution to unacceptable risk" because money would be unavailable for a major repair, such as a pipeline break or fuel-cost increase.
Still, Leland said she finds it "highly unlikely" that tuition won't increase because higher education institutions are funded by the state and student tuitions.
Every institution in the University System of Georgia was asked to submit a budget listing of what each university or college would have to cut if the state reduced the system's budget by an additional $300 million. The reductions would be in addition to the $265 million already cut from the system by Gov. Sonny Perdue. These "worst-case scenario" budgets were to be created under the assumption that tuition would not be raised.
GCSU's worst-case scenario budget would eliminates 23 staff and 17 faculty positions. The reduction of the faculty positions, a 6 percent decrease in GCSU faculty, would result in the elimination of several degrees. While many University System institutions listed the degrees that were at risk, Leland said she felt it would be "premature" for GCSU to list specific degrees.
The elimination of positions could threaten the national accreditation of certain programs, such as nursing, education and business, because the programs require a certain student-faculty ratio.
Also incorporated into the worst-case scenario budget is a reduction of 1 percent in the operating budget, which is where funding for the repair and replacement of equipment, including technology, comes from.
If the university's budget gets cut the highest possible amount, GCSU plans on using almost $3 million of its financial reserves set aside for emergencies. According to the budget plan, this "exposes the institution to unacceptable risk" because money would be unavailable for a major repair, such as a pipeline break or fuel-cost increase.
Still, Leland said she finds it "highly unlikely" that tuition won't increase because higher education institutions are funded by the state and student tuitions.
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