GCSU braces for impact of state budget cuts
The Strategic Resource Management Task Force, a group of campus constituents, met for the first time Aug. 21. The task force was formed in response to the budget cuts recently implemented by the state. In early August, Gov. Sonny Perdue announced budget cuts for state-funded agencies including GCSU and thirty-four other universities under the University System of Georgia Board of Regents. The task force, formed by GCSU President Dorothy Leland, will look at ways to handle the current financial situation and find more efficient ways to run campus operations. Co-chairs include Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Sandra Jordan and Vice President and Chief of Staff Paul Jones. Students’ opinions are also taken into consideration as SGA President Zach Mullins is included in the group.
The task force has been divided into different subcommittees to focus on different areas such as the Physical Plant, which considers the operations of the entire campus. GCSU spends an estimated $6,000 a day to continue basic operations such as heating, air conditioning and electricity.
All departments of GCSU are affected by the budget cuts. In the classroom, professors and students are cutting back on their use of paper, opting for either environmentally-friendly products or a greater use of technology. Dr. Mark Vail cuts back on his paper use by putting his classes’ readings and other assignments on Georgia View. There is a strong push for “greener” products and operations such as adding more bike trails.
Student organizations have also suffered. Wesley, the Methodist ministry on campus recently lost $20,000 in funding, leaving barely enough money to cover the new director’s salary.
Many are upset that budget cuts have been applied to education, believing that it should be the last thing to cut back on.
“People are only thinking about the costs and forgetting the investment and return. A college education leads to a stronger workforce and allows us to capitalize on the growing information based industry,” Jordan said. “With a college education, students tend to become better citizens, they are more likely to vote and volunteer.”
She also praised Leland on how she handled the situation. “Thanks to Dr. Leland, we are in a better financial situation than other universities. She predicted these budget cuts several years ago and has managed the budget very well” Jordan said.
The university has implemented six state-mandated furlough days. Faculty and staff are prohibited from working on those days.
“Furlough days are temporary and not long-term solutions. Right now we have staff and faculty shortages and many positions are frozen. Our challenge is to think of bold and creative ways to operate our campus and educate our students without the people we would have otherwise hired. The loss of pay from furloughs will hurt some employees and their families more than others. We need to pay attention to those in need and do what we can to help each other through these difficult times,” Jordan said.
GCSU could see as much as an 8 to 10 percent budget cut in the next few years, in the worst case scenario, officials said.
Faculty is also anticipating higher health-care costs which will add to the financial hardship.
On the upside, students, faculty and staff appear committed to working together to make it through this difficult economic situation. For instance, many students have become more conscious of how much they spend, according to GCSU Student Ambassador Patty Maguire said.
“Students seem to be more conscious of their money and spending habits at least,” Maguire said.
Posted by Colonnade Archives
on Sep 11 2009. Filed under News.
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