Budget ax means big cuts at Gordon

Budget ax means big cuts at Gordon

Posted by

in Top Stories

Friday, February 26. 2010

Comments (61)

The state legislature's demand that the University System of Georgia cut its FY2011 budget by $200-$300 million will mean devastating cuts at Gordon College, one official says.

Please login or register to read the rest of this story.

Trackbacks

Trackback specific URI for this entry

No Trackbacks

Comments

Display comments as (Linear | Threaded)

#1 Anonymous on 02/26/10 at 03:53 PM

...no swimming...? ...no alumni support...? Oh the noes...!!!1!!

Idiots, what part of recession are you having problems understanding? It is high time these money pits start scaling back like everyone else.

#2 Anonymous on 02/26/10 at 04:20 PM

The education department would be fine to cut. The poor people graduating from the program cannot find jobs.

#3 Jeannie on 02/26/10 at 05:24 PM

If you'll look back to the comments that we made when they announced the new nursing castle- I mean building - we all said... "but what are you goint to do with it if you can't afford to staff it"?
Mrs. Rhonda Toon's reply was (sic) that the building was paid for from different funds.
And so, construction is in full swing.
Maybe they can turn the building into a shelter for homeless Gordon staff, faculty and students who are still trying to pay their tutiotion.

#4 Anonymous on 02/26/10 at 05:33 PM

It is high time government workers learned what it means to have pay cuts like other business people have to experience in times like these. Sorry if this hurts anyone's feelings but hey, most working for any gov't institution has been immune from any/all pay cuts. I doubt professors are making 10-20% less now than two or three years ago.

#5 UGA student on 02/26/10 at 08:44 PM

You clowns want to get on here and talk a bunch of smack talk about stuff that you don't have a clue about. The budget cuts involve the entire University system, not just Gordon. These cuts amount to the budgets of over 20 colleges within the University system. At last count, there are only 30 or so schools in the entire system (does not include private schools). Can you imagine closing two thirds of the colleges in Georgia?

I am a student in the business program at UGA Griffin, where the program there is the best thing since sliced bread. We have excellent instructors who really know their subjects, probably more so than their Athens counterparts. I attended Gordon prior to UGA and despite what you naysayers think, it was (and still is) an excellent school to prepare me for UGA. But now word is that the program at UGA could be on the chopping block. I'm six classes from finishing. What do I do now?

But enough about my situation. Let's get to yours, since that's all you really care about:

#1. Just because these particular programs are not beneficial to YOU does not mean they are beneficial at all.

#2. You moron. The people getting a degree in education will find work. It may take some time. And when the economy rebounds, these people will be positioned to move ahead faster than you, so I suppose then you will have a new gripe.

#3. Many businesses fund projects from different funding sources. Sometimes funds are earmarked for particular purposes. For example, UGA just spent a fortune on a new Student Learning Center facility for us in Griffin. Obviously, this money did not come from its operating fund. In addition, schools have to renovate and/or replace buildings and facilities. Do you want to go to a school that looks like it is old and dilapidated? What would that make you think of the education that you'd get there?

#4. Last, but not least, and my favorite. You want to slam these teachers and professors as government workers who have "been immune from any/all pay cuts." Do you know this for sure? NO! One of your next lines says "I doubt", which means YOU DON'T KNOW! My professor told me that she's already have 3 pay cuts, so she's having to teach extra classes in order to make up the difference. My sister is a schoolteacher in Douglasville, and she's told me of her having furlough days there, which is basically, you get to go to work 8 hours a day for a few days, but you're not going to get paid for those days. How would you like to go to work and not get paid for it? Haven't you been watching the news? Sonny has been furloughing state workers (including teachers) for over the past year, maybe two now. Go crawl back under your rock and try to catch up on current events before you go slamming "government workers." Not all government workers are the slugs you make them out to be.

#6 open eyes on 02/26/10 at 08:48 PM

Don't you realize that this doesn't mean pay cuts, it means job cuts! It won't be just professors, there will be a trickle down effect that will eliminate positions on every level. All the work that has gone in to adding new programs of study, this means adding jobs of all kinds, will go down the drain. It's sad that the Georgia state budget crisis will have such a huge effect on Gordon and in turn, the Barnesville area.

#7 Moron on 02/26/10 at 09:52 PM

In regards to your moron comment: I have a job. I am a teacher and am very familiar with the situation the student teachers and recent education grads are in. Most surrounding counties are doing massive teacher layoffs which means experienced teachers- some with several years in the system- will be without work. Then you have a mass entrance of newly licensed teachers to flood the job market as well. Gordon graduated 30 teachers last year and only 1/2 of them found full-time teaching jobs. This year, they will graduate 60 and my prediction is that MAYBE 5 of them will get a job. Until the economy turns around they will be stuck with no job, attempting to pay back the loans that they borrowed. When the education program at Gordon started several years ago there was a critical shortage of teachers. It is very obvious now that this is not the case so this program is no longer necessary.

#8 Mabel on 02/26/10 at 10:07 PM

Your response should be appreciated and while yet you are basically correct, I can agree with you. About fifteen years ago, over 8 million dollars was misappropriated by this administration (open records). State officials overlooked the seriousness of the transgressions for the reason that student enrollment had been steadily increasing at phenomenal rates during this period. Yet, the board of regents continued to place non-business oriented leadership at the helm (i.e. literary doctrates, history doctorates, etc.) The regents had continually ignored sound business operating practices because university money had historically been guaranteed from the legislature (our tax dollars) and federal subsidies based solely on enrollment. No one should be surprised at the recent cut announcements. The regents continued to spend money on buildings during the last five years without a clue about the economy. The money was targetted years ago for these buildings, but the regents could not say "no" to the legislature. How about the business theory: "if it doesn't save money or make money, then don't build it". Now, it appears that the "Hope" grant money will not be enough in offsetting your tuition as it has done in the past. The results: Enrollment will decline; Buildings will sit idle; Tenured faculty will leave out of frustration; Dorms will not be full; Student population will decrease; Local business depending on students and well-paid local faculty and administrators will experience less buying activity... yes, a vicious spiral!
I suggest local citizens and business owners and students contact the governor's office and contact each member of your board of regents! You know that Barnesville will also suffer as a result of a deficient business plan at Gordon college. Demand a sound business plan (it will be novel!) from your regents and chancellor.

From a former student, graduate, former adjuct faculty, and alumni contributor.

#9 anon on 02/26/10 at 10:12 PM

What Mrs. Toon said is correct. Perhaps you should take a course in accounting or economics to learn how capital projects are funded!

#10 cats on 02/27/10 at 06:25 AM

Your attitude is appalling, UGA student.
Shame on you. There is a way to make your point without resorting to name calling.
You have some growing up to do.

#11 Anonymous on 02/27/10 at 07:05 AM

Moron you are a moron. So your logic is since people are graduating with Education degrees and can't get jobs that program should be just cut. Well heck with any degree you get now there is less people being hired and less jobs. Lets just do away with all of them to. Thats obviously your thinking. What the heck do you teach? You must be one of our great legislators or maybe you just taught them.

#12 Anonymous on 02/27/10 at 07:52 AM

"But now word is that the program at UGA could be on the chopping block. I'm six classes from finishing. What do I do now?"

You roll with the punches. Life is like that. You are nothing special and certainly not entitled to be insulated from economic trends and their deleterious effects.

Just in case you are not up on current events, millions are losing their jobs. To expect that you are somehow exempt is laughable.

Grow up. Life is hard, it is harder when you are stupid.

#13 Anonymous on 02/27/10 at 08:19 AM

Why is Rhonda Toon having to make statements to the press instead of the President of Gordon, Dr. Weill? Yes, he's resigned as of the end of this year, but he's still being paid to be make the hard decisions and be the head of the institution. Wait, maybe he can't do that and that's why he's resigning. I've also heard, but admit I don't know for a fact, that he receives a year's pay after he leaves. If true,that's not going to help the budget! Pay him and someone else to actually do the job. That's real fiscal management.

#14 Gordon ed grad with job on 02/27/10 at 09:07 AM

Sounds to me like maybe you are in another department at the college and are trying to target the education department to save your own skin. The fact is the education department provides a bachelors' degree for Gordon, an important and significant fact. Maybe Gordon could cut out some athletic programs, PE, alumni programs, community education, etc. Nursing and education need to stay.

#15 Anonymous on 02/27/10 at 10:45 AM

Excellent post UGA student!!!! These clowns get on here and rant and rave about stuff they have no idea about....It's evident they've been getting there information from the "Usual Suspects" Faux, LimpBaugh and others who constantly are nonsensical blabbers! Barnesville already looks like a scene from the 1930's economic crash. To bash Gordon and any other public institution there is like biting the hand that feeds you. Many businesses have already suffered from the current economic climate and all will experience hard times once these cutbacks go into effect.

#16 Anonymous on 02/27/10 at 01:52 PM

Maybe Dr. Williamson can come back...He could elevate Dr. Chamberlain to second in command and they could put on capes with "G" on the chest. Like Roosevelt, they could save us all.

#17 Anonymous on 02/27/10 at 01:52 PM

There's one place to cut right now...just saved $150,000.

#18 UGA student on 02/27/10 at 06:24 PM

I know all too well that I have to roll with the punches. I didn't say that all that I am is a UGA student. I'm married, working my tail off to exhaustion, and trying to go to school to, in order to better myself and my family's existence on this rock called Earth.

I keep up on current events as best I can. Never in my post did I say I was something special, nor do I think I am in any way exempt. I know better than anyone that I am not. My point was, to be this close to graduation from the best school in the state, and having the rug pulled from under your feet at the finish line is, well, frustrating. I was thinking out loud (or on a keyboard, anyway). But I know, somehow, I'll make it. How yet is up in the air.

Life IS hard. Nothing good is easy. And yes, life is harder if you're stupid. That's why I'm in school, trying to get educated.

#19 UGA student on 02/27/10 at 06:38 PM

Cats, sorry if I offended you. I read a lot of the posts on here, and far too often I see posts from people bashing our education systems, along with everything else. I don't usually comment here, but when I do, I'll try to do better.

#20 Anonymous on 02/27/10 at 06:48 PM

God help Gordon if Dr. Chamberlain is elevated to any higher position there. He was a thorn in the side of the Lamar County school system - very arrogant person who had no professional relationship with teachers in the system that I know of. When I retired, he didn't have even one polite word to say to those of us who attended the BOE meeting to be formally acknowledged for our years of service. The always gracious, Rev. Underwood, stepped up and made some very appreciated remarks to us. It was my experience that Dr. Chamberlain didn't know and couldn't have cared less about who taught in Lamar County. I doubt he has changed. We need a qualified, community-minded person to replace Dr. Weill who, I think, has done a very fine job at Gordon. My only complaint is that they (being a 2-year State college) must accept ALL students regardless of GPA or SAT scores....we all see the result of that when we drive down College Drive - sad.

#21 tiggy on 02/27/10 at 07:13 PM

Dr. Weill can't make the hard decisions, because he doesn't know how! He's a philosophy scholar! People in charge, like Weill, ARE the problem at Gordon and in the university system... Let's get some people in there that actually know how to run "big" business. Weill will receive a year's pay after he leaves and that costs us all! Williamson got a golden parachute, too, when he left! All of this is at the taxpayers' expense!

#22 Anonymous on 02/28/10 at 05:32 AM

Ridiculous photo for the story.

#23 Anonymous on 02/28/10 at 09:09 AM

we need to cut all the sports dept in all of unv of ga schools and leave the education uncut.......colleges are for teaching and learning.....forget about the football, basketball, tennis, golf, swimming, soccer, volleyball, gymnastics, baseball, and badmitten

#24 Anonymous on 02/28/10 at 09:12 AM

You must be a liberal because; you’re minding somebody else’s business when you should be minding your own. When you elevate yourself to Walter's level and own your own media, you can decide what picture to put with your articles.

#25 Anonymous on 02/28/10 at 09:46 AM

perhaps the money could have been put to better use. You would think intelligent people have the foresight in an economic climate such as this not to build it if they cant come..lol.

#26 Anonymous on 02/28/10 at 10:10 AM

Like no one in the financial industry got huge bonuses or golden parachutes in the roaring 00's. And your business model of higher education? Given the performance of businesses like the giants in the financial industry or the big three auto makers I think we'd do much better than to move to the "management" model they have used. There are colleges that use such models (the University of Phoenix) and you never hear about breakthroughs in research in medicine or science from those schools. They produce no great thoughts, literature, art or cultural improvements. They produce no patents for new inventions or technology to improve life for the rest of society. Not a very good return on investment I would say.

#27 Anonymous on 02/28/10 at 10:21 AM

Perhaps those who fund the capital projects and those who blindly accept their ignorant policies and decisions should take a course in accounting and economics. They may learn if you can hear and feel the train coming - you should get off of the tracks. You don't have to wait until it hits you before taking the leap. Gordon (and the 'system' aka taxpayers) will be left to pay for the upkeep, staffing, etc. of the buildings) IT'S NOT FREE!
Tried to tell you this a year ago!
I love Gordon and Barnesville and I hate to see them acting like stupid sheep!

#28 Conservative on 02/28/10 at 11:12 AM

Ha ha, what a liberal response!

When you put something out there for public view, it becomes a viable target for public comment, thus the opinion expressed by the poster above.
It is obvious that you are applying your liberalism in an attempt to quieten our comments and opinions.

#29 annonymous on 02/28/10 at 12:05 PM

How about cutting some of the higher-paying positions? I would hate to see the sports programs go, but college is for education. Why in the world is Gordon College accepting any and all? Just visit the campus every once and a while and see whay is going on. If Gordon closes, what will happen to the community?

#30 Anonymous on 02/28/10 at 01:26 PM

The crime rate will go down.

#31 Anonymous on 02/28/10 at 02:51 PM

Do you even know what you are saying? Government jobs have suffered greatly. My husabnd hasn't had a raise at all for 5 years. They are steady cutting benefits and jobs.The cost of the benefits they do have is also on the rise.Watch the news!!!!

#32 Gordon Education Student on 02/28/10 at 03:02 PM

It would be very sad to see the ECE program be cut. Times are tough and it will be very difficult to get a job in the next three to six months, BUT in the last two years Gordon has provided 90 students the skills to provide children with a meaningful and lifelong education WHEN (not if) we get jobs. This is a recession, but the economy will pick back up. Gordon has a one of a kind and fantastic program that I would recommend absolutely anyone for. Keep up the good work Gordon, and I hope you do not have to make cuts to the Education Program.

#33 Gordon Grad on 02/28/10 at 05:39 PM

For the record, the requirements for admission to Gordon include: a reading SAT score of 420, a math score of 400 (they also accept ACT scores which can be viewed at www.gdn.edu) and a GPA of 2.0 for regular grads or 2.2 for technical diploma grads. Granted the students who do not meet the SAT/ACT requirements can take the COMPASS exam (placement test) and still get accepted. It is disappointing that the requirements for admission are so substandard, but I like to think that these particular students who are not up to par are weeded out when the evaluation process for admission into their specialty programs begins.

#34 anonymous on 02/28/10 at 05:52 PM

Please tell us what great research breakthroughs in medicine and science, new great inventions, and great cultural developments have taken place at Gordon. You'd think that after going to school there, working there, and living in the community, I'd have heard about them.

#35 Anonymous on 02/28/10 at 06:10 PM

When times were good they lowered the brick wall a foot or two, moved a road a few hundred feet, and moved a sidewalk about one foot north from where it was and decreased the available walking room in the process. If other schools did stuff like that it's no wonder the system is broke.

#36 Griffin Tech Grad on 03/01/10 at 05:31 AM

Some changes could be made in education. GTC has students taking core classes that are not necessary to the field of study. My core classes have not helped me in the field of cosmetology. GTC could offer better training in cosmetology than we received.
Don't touch Gordon College when the cuts come. Classes here are the best.

#37 Clay Lovejoy on 03/01/10 at 06:56 AM

It will do no good to be pointing fingers in any direction now. What's done is done. We are all guilty of living beyond our means. I live out past the public schools, when the new Fine Arts building was being built, I would ride by every day and think what a nice asset to our community.Now I think Oh-My wonder what its cost just to keep all those lights burning.
Now is the time for us to pull together and figure out how to get jobs back in this country. I don't believe that our government can or will fix this problem. I believe that it is up to us to do it. We must demand from corporations that the products we buy be made here.

#38 isa on 03/01/10 at 06:57 AM

Someone should have thought of all the wasted
money putting up walls and taking them back
down. I see a lot of waste can't you?
Someone that had to live on a budget would
not have made these mistakes.............

#39 Anonymous on 03/01/10 at 07:07 AM

Don't forget the copper roof on the old gym that was converted to dorm space. The Great Wall of Barnesville should have never been built in the first place or there should have been two tunnels. Funny thing about raising tuition...For most of those who are making a brief stop here from Clayton and Henry Counties there is no big worry. Everything is being funded by the Lottery or by grants or by loans that will never be repaid. They're here for a few party filled months then home to Mama.

#40 Anonymous on 03/01/10 at 07:22 AM

I am offended by the photo used for this story. What does Jack Nicholson axing his way into the bathroom to get to Shelly Duvall have to do with budget cuts affecting Gordon? How distasteful.

#41 tiggy on 03/01/10 at 07:44 AM

I'd like to think that good research, good teaching, and good business decisions could co-exist in an educational environment, but I've yet to see it happen at Gordon!!! As far as the proprietary schools are concerned, many of them are accredited by the same regional accrediting agency as Gordon AND UGA!!! The proprietary schools are giving us good graduates! Don't look down your arrogant nose when you look at the facts!!! Your nose gets in the way!

#42 Anonymous on 03/01/10 at 08:25 AM

They need to close Gordon down and restructure it as a state prison. With crime rate going up, and education going down it's the only logical thing to do. Prisons will never go out of business, in fact, business is picking up.

#43 dogboy on 03/01/10 at 09:32 AM

USG faculty are making less in actual dollars than they were 10 years ago, as raises have not kept anywhere near inflation. With furloughs and added health care costs in the past two years it has gotten even worse. As to letting businessmen run things. We should of course get the heads of Goldman Sachs and AIG and Bank of America whose sound business management(greed) brought a lot of this on in the first place.

#44 Anonymous on 03/01/10 at 09:58 AM

Things only get worse when the going is tuff and you lose your sense if humor. Sometimes dark humor does have its place.
Laughter has a medicinal value and can help us from taking life way too serious. It’s a great way to keep us from awfulizing personal set backs to the point it completely corrodes our outlook on life.

#45 annoymous on 03/01/10 at 10:06 AM

What is the graduation rate at Gordon? How many of the dorm students actually receive a diploma and continue to seek a four year degree?
Gordon has a beautiful campus. How much money is spent on landscaping? Sure it is an attraction, but is it necessary?
I say cut the salaries of the higher paid administrastion. They won't voluntarily do it for sure.

#46 cats on 03/01/10 at 12:55 PM

Sorry you find the photo offensive. It made me laugh out loud.
I've been around long enough to have been through economic downturns, in other parts of the country.
You just gotta laugh so you don't cry.

#47 Vikings suck on 03/01/10 at 01:40 PM

The first thing Gordon should cut is all remedial programs. Weill and his minions should refuse to teach anything that should have been learned in high school. One drawback: this would empty those fancy new dorms.

#48 Anonymous on 03/01/10 at 03:54 PM

I didn't really find the photo offensive. I was being sarcastic because of the person who found the basketball photo offensive.

#49 Anonymous on 03/01/10 at 04:11 PM

I agree 100%. I have always had issues with this. College is not for everyone. If you have to go to college and take remedial classes, it is not where you need to be.

#50 Anonymous on 03/01/10 at 04:55 PM

The learning support programs you are railing against are actually mandated of all access institutions such as Gordon by the very same state legislature considering the budget cuts being discussed.

#51 SSS on 03/01/10 at 05:01 PM

State College Proposed Cuts. Business, music, and theater departments to be eliminated at Gordon. State wide several thousand jobs are at stake.

http://www.usg.edu/fiscal_affairs/documents/summary_of_reductions.pdf

#52 cats on 03/02/10 at 07:00 AM

Ooooh, missed the sarcasm.
Carry on.

#53 Anonymous on 03/02/10 at 10:28 AM

Pot and kettle fighting..love it!!

#54 Anonymous on 03/03/10 at 07:29 AM

I understand, and I may be a little off base, that the dorm students pay almost $1000 for a meal ticket. Start by suspending the food services and let the students eat where we all eat. Our restaurants and tax base would appreciate it. Install sandwich and drink machines in a "canteen" and save a pile of money and make a little too. Tuition would go down as well.

#55 Summers Field = Perfect Classroom of the Future on 03/03/10 at 08:07 AM

http://blogs.ajc.com/mike-luckovich/2010/03/02/march-3-cartoon/

#56 Anonymous on 03/03/10 at 09:23 AM

I think that the cuts should start with remedial courses. Anyone know the numbers on students taking remedial courses and the number of teachers teaching them at Gordon? Should have passed it in High School and if not should take it at a technical school to be transferred in when they meet college required courses.

#57 Anonymous on 03/03/10 at 07:33 PM

Residential students don't have kitchens. That's why the school offers food service. I seriously doubt all of your meals come from office vending machines.

The tax base would not benefit from firing all of the people who work in Gordon food service.

Also, tuition is set by the Board of Regents and has nothing to do with what students eat.

#58 Anonymous on 03/04/10 at 10:28 AM

In response to 26.1...I most certainly don't eat all my meals from vending machines but when I was in college, it was a nice convenience to grab a quick sandwich out of the machine every now and then. You missed my point anyway. There are restaurants in every direction around the college and in walking distance. Nearly all students are mobile and are capable of getting to one of these businesses. I would assume that sales taxes collected would be a benefit to the city and county and increased traffic in the stores could offer placement for the displaced employees. Lastly, It is obvious that the Regents set tuition...and our pals on the board tack on $1000 plus to pay for each residential student to have three squares. What we have now is the college in competetion with local restaurants while playing on an uneven playing field. The vendor running the campus cafeteria is paid upfront for each meal whether it's eaten or not. The campus Krystal couldn't compete with them either and packed it in.

#59 Anonymous on 03/04/10 at 01:38 PM

that is not true! i use to live in the dorms myself and some of the new dorms have a kitchenette in them. There are not kitchenette's in Melton hall but the Commons and some of the ones in the Village have kitchenettes.

#60 joe six pack on 03/06/10 at 08:01 AM

gordan has been wasting money for years. what you will not see cut are the dorms that are invested and owned by some fat cat big shots from barnesville and thier cronnies, it all has ties to the famous land swap deal and chamberlin. gordon talks about cutting to community programs to get the local yokels in an outrage to promote higher taxes. gordon is not the economic impact locally that many would have you believe. most faculty live out of county and pay taxes elsewhere, the commuting students do stop at conveince stores and fast food but the dorn students contribute to nothing but to the local crime rate. the crime on campus gets covered up as much as possible to try and hide it. a city councelman benefits from housing thugs that the dorms cant take and thats great because im all for free enterprize but if he is using his polital position to have boarding houses in barnesville than it should be stopped. no one else would be allowed to do this. and joe public is paying for all the dorm students because they are all suckin the taxpayers breast. wonder if all the dorm students know what fratrnal oraganization john b gordon helped found. lets cut chamberlin and toon and all the other wasted money at gordon, and lets scrap alll the copper off the one dorm. oh weel its all for higher learning.

#61 Anonymous on 03/13/10 at 08:26 AM

DHS HAVE BEEN FURLOUGHING ONE TIME EACH MONTH SINCE 2008 THANK YOU VERY MUCH

Only registered users may comment on stories. Please login or register to post comments. Your browser must support cookies.

The author does not allow comments to this entry