March 6, 2015
1
The Guilfordian
Guilford College
)
Students stand up for the
programs, departments they
love during financial crisis
News
BY BANNING WATSON & THOR
TOBIASSEN
Staff Writers
“Everything is on the table,” said Ed
Winslow III, chairman of the board of trustees.
“The board ... and the president’s committee
are going to take a comprehensive look at
everything. There are no sacred cows.”
This was the harsh news that came from
the trustees this weekend as they met at the
Community Center to determine tuition costs.
Guilford’s budget is predicted to experience
a $2 million revenue shortfall this year. The
administration and the trustees are faced with
tough choices to reconfigure the school’s
finances and ensure its future financial
stability.
The first of those choices was made at the
Feb. 28 budget meeting, as the board voted
to approve a budget that includes a 2 percent
across-the-board hike in tuition and student
fees.
Rumors have swirled around a set of budget
cuts that will accompany the tuition increase
next year.
Winslow emphasized that the tuition hike
is smaller than the ones many similar schools
have enacted, including Guilford, in previous
years.
“We are trying to make college accessible to
as broad a range of people as possible during
what are still economically challenging times,”
said Winslow.
A decline in enrollment, particularly in the
CCE program, has been an important factor
in Guilford’s budget woes.
According to Dean of Admission and
Financial Aid Administrator Andy Strickler,
almost 80 percent of Guilford’s revenue comes
from tuition dollars. The decline from 1,400
traditional students and 1,300 CCE students
in 2011 to the current numbers of 1,190
traditional students and 820 CCE has left the
College’s funds wanting.
Budget cuts will be made with input from a
committee that President Jane Fernandes has
established. Rob Nelson, former vice president
of finance for the UNC system, heads the
committee.
Winslow said the cuts are likely to be
revealed when the trustees meet again on May
29 and May 30.
Students had an opportunity to voice their
concerns to the board of trustees on Feb. 25
in the Carnegie room. The main issues and
questions were summarized well by junior
Teresa Bedzigui, one of the three speakers on
behalf of the Bonner Scholars program.
“While Guilford does a fantastic job with
environmental sustainability, it does not do so
with financial sustainability,” said Bedzigui.
“As a result, the College is taking a reactionary
stance and cutting programs that define
Guilford. What is the meaning of calling
ourselves a diverse institution without having
as many professors, faculty and staff of color
See budget I Page 2
Volume 101 I Issue 16
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