News 12 at 6 o'clock, August 12, 2008

AUGUSTA, Ga.---The Medical College of Georgia and Augusta State University are on the same playing field. They, along with all other University System of Georgia institutions, are being forced to go back to the drawing board to make up for the millions they expected from the state. It is the latest fallout from the state's $1.6 billion shortfall.

"This is a heck of a place," said Augusta State President Bill Bloodworth. It is heck of place in a heck of a predicament. The Governor is scaling back state funds. It is the latest fallout from the state's $1.6 billion shortfall.

"We have got to take whatever steps we can to reduce our spending," said President Bloodworth.

Cutting travel, freezing positions, and slicing equipment expenses is just the beginning. "Unfortunately we're going to have to put more part time faculty members in our classes because we don't have the funds to hire people on a permanent basis the way we would like to," said President Bloodworth.

You know what that means. "We may well have some classes with more students in it than we would like to have," said President Bloodworth.

Augusta State faces a $2 to $3 million budget cut. "You can imagine our concern," said President Bloodworth. "The state has budget problems. The budget is being reduced at a time when the number of students is increasing."

It is the same story over at the Medical College of Georgia. A record 2,500 students have enrolled as the college faces a more than $8 million budget cut.

"There are realities here," said MCG President Dr. Daniel Rahn. "We can't take $8.5 million out of our budget without it impacting some of our plans for growth."

40 to 50 vacant positions are now on hold or could be eliminated. "We are also critically looking at all new hires both faculty and staff," said Dr. Rahn.

There are some tough decisions ahead during tough times.

"But this is a place where people are dedicated to what they're doing for our students and our community," said President Bloodworth. "I think that we will pull together, and we will get the job done."

Dr. Rahn and President Bloodworth insist there will be no layoffs, but the numbers continue to change. The Governor is looking at his options. The Board of Regents tells News 12 that the Governor is asking for plans that reflect a 6, 8, and 10 percent cut in state funding.

As for the new campus in Athens...MCG is holding off on hiring those positions until the middle of next year. We should point out that MCG is currently recruiting 11 faculty members for the Athens location. The college says they could welcome the dean of the school in January.