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The Guilfordian

The student news site of Guilford College

The Guilfordian

The student news site of Guilford College

The Guilfordian

Budget Committee explains proposed ’07-’08 budget

On Nov. 8, the Budget Committee held a forum to explain the proposed budget for 2007-2008 and answer questions faculty, staff and students had about issues that affect the budget such as enrollment and tuition increases. “The purpose of this forum is to understand where we’ve been, where we are and where we are going as a college,” said Heather Hayton, assistant professor of English and chair of the Budget Committee.

The committee discussed a possible 3.3% increase in enrollment for 2007-2008 as part of the Strategic and Long Range Plan.

Rises in enrollment are typical for any school, but lately Guilford has been going through an unusually long period of growth.

“Traditional student enrollment has (only) gone up for 8 consecutive years one time: between 1958 and 1965,” said Vice President for Enrollment and Campus Life, Randy Doss. “[Presently] we have just finished our 7th year of consecutive growth.”

The committee also discussed a proposed 5% increase in tuition and financial aid. The increase would bring traditional student tuition, fees, and room and board from $29,710 to $31,210 in 07-08. CCE tuition and fees would increase from $255 to $259 per credit hour.

“Every year tuition goes up about 4-7% in order to account for inflation, increased salaries, and to augment programs and positions that benefit students,” said Senate Treasurer Chris Lampkin. “Some schools have increased their tuition up to 17% in the past.”

In comparison with 18 other small liberal arts colleges, Guilford dropped from 11th to 12th in overall cost. Oberlin topped off the group with tuition, fees and room and board of $43, 146.

“Enrollment, tuition and fees are huge conversation we continue to have every semester,” said Hayton.

Hayton explained that 77% of Guilford’s operating budget comes from tuition and fees, so increases in these areas are essential to maintain growth and a balanced budget.

The Budget Committee recommended that funding for capital improvement projects (improvements to buildings and grounds) be reduced during the 07-08 fiscal year.

“We spent around $4 million each of the past three years on campus improvements and that money has come from our operating budget,” said Hayton. “I think we all now see it is time to slow down the pace of improvements and do what we can afford with cash on hand.”

This recommendation would put projects like the renovation of Archdale on hold for the time being.

Though the renovation will eventually be completed, gifts from donors intended specifically for the Archdale project would speed up the process, much like the recent Armfield Athletic Center improvements.

Hayton explained that this year the Budget Committee had to ask the Vice-Presidents to make one-time cuts in the 2006-2007 budget in order to compensate for enrollment expectations which were not met.

“Overall enrollment for the college grew….just not at the pace we budgeted for as we were planning the 06-07 annual budget. When we saw we had missed the enrollment targets we were counting on for revenue, we went back and revised the expense side of the budget to maintain a balanced budget,” said Hayton. “The cuts we are talking about are very small compared to the overall budget for 2006-07–less than 2%”

Another challenge the Budget Committee faces is to “close the gap” between what the College needs and what it can afford.

Between now and January, the committee has to close a gap of about $750,000, which is a small amount compared to the $1.5 million- $1.7 million gaps of the past 3 years.

“It is important for the Budget Committee to responsibly close this gap while maintaining the same quality of faculty and services as the school has now,” said Lampkin.

The Budget Committee will make a final budget recommendation to President Kent Chabotar in January 2007, who will later make his recommendation to the Board of Trustees in February.

There will be another forum to discuss the final recommendation in January.

“The Budget Committee has its focus on being as transparent and conclusive as it can be,” Hayton said. “We want to make sure the decisions made in budget meetings reflect the community as a whole.

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