Despite a $2.7 million cut in the school’s budget and the elimination of 20 faculty and staff positions as a result of the economic recession, President Kent Chabotar remains confident yet cautious about future college operations. Guilford’s financial situation in the wake of the economic downturn is a mixed bag: while the school’s endowment has shrunk by nearly 29% between 2007 and 2008, overall giving in terms of fundraising has increased by 92% to 8 million dollars since July 1, 2008.

“We’re concerned (about our situation and the economy), but we’re not immediately panicky,” said Chabotar. “We’re not seeing spring semester’s effects yet because fundraising doesn’t go down during an economic crisis, and government bailout money supports universities, too.”

Chabotar added that the school is more concerned about next fall and the fall of 2010, because the effects of the drop in the market endowment value will not be visible until then. Thus, for the time being, the school is focusing more on its steady growth in enrollment.

While many chief economists have warned colleges about possible decreases in enrollment, applications at Guilford are up for next year. The Admissions Office has had a specific influx of applications from Virginia and North Carolina.

According to the Chronicle of Higher Education, many students want to attend colleges either in or closer to their hometowns in order to save money on food, living accommodations, and transportation.

Even if traditional student enrollment were to decrease, the expanding CCE population could potentially compensate for such a loss.

“We’re protected a bit with the adult student population,” Chabotar said. “Adults tend to go to school more consistently whether the economy is good or bad.”

However, this increased enrollment still reflects the effects of the economic crisis in terms of how students are electing to pay their tuition during the application process.

“Deposits (to hold accepted students’ spots) are running behind,” Chabotar said. “Over the last several years students usually sent multiple deposits; now we’re seeing more students doing only one deposit.”

Since the final deposits for students enrolling in fall 2009 are not due until late spring, it may appear as if Guilford is running behind in terms of tuition payments when they actually are not. Come May 1, 2009, if Guilford has not received such payments, they will be running behind, but until that date arrives, it is too early to tell.

In light of the recession’s effects and the numerous adjustments that Guilford is, and will have to make in the future with regards to its budget and the allotment of funds, students want to know where the first “cuts” are taking place.

“I want to know more details in terms of the administration’s priorities in terms of what and who (faculty/staff) gets cut,” said junior psychology major Alicia Johnson.

Most noticeably to students, the health, mailroom, and housekeeping departments have all lost staff members.

When asked why such positions were cut more so than academic ones, Chabotar said, “The last thing that I would do is cut our core business, which is our academic program, and we’re certainly not freezing any faculty searches.”

In response to students who were more concerned and angered about the loss of health, mailroom, and housekeeping staff, Chabotar said, “I hope students came to Guilford more for the faculty and the academic experience than for the mail service and the dorms.”

“I came to Guilford for the academics,” said senior sociology major Chelsea Hornick-Becker. “But I also came for the core values which include respecting and involving all types of staff members whether we’re in an economic recession or not.”

In sum, Chabotar wants to remind students that this economic crisis is an international issue, and that it is not just affecting Guilford.

“Thus far we’ve been pleased by the relatively small effect the economy has had on us.otherwise, we’re doing the best that we can,” said Chabotar.