Alina Staskevicius
Undergraduate Student Body President

As you have undoubtedly heard, the state of Georgia legislature faces the difficult task of balancing the overall state budget. In a time when the state is experiencing a tax revenue shortfall exceeding $1 billion, there is little doubt that the amount of state funds Georgia Tech receives in fiscal year 2011 (which begins July 1, 2010) will decrease even more than it has in the past two years. Fewer state funds can translate into a decrease in Georgia Tech’s overall budget - and thus fewer campus services and resources available to students, larger class sizes, lesser course availability - and/or increased furloughs for faculty/staff and increased tuition for students. As students, we recognize that Georgia Tech is highly likely to see additional budget cuts due to the tax revenue shortfall; however, we believe that those cuts should be proportional to the amount allocated from the state budget to Tech in fiscal year 2010.

As students, we have drafted letters and emails, and held meetings with decision-makers within the legislature to make sure that our voices are heard. Along with members of other universities and colleges in Georgia, we rallied at the state Capitol on March 15. I believe that we have truly conveyed that legislators should invest in our education because a more educated populace means more jobs and more dollars in Georgia.

Our student priorities include the following:
- Enabling Tech students to adhere to reasonable graduation timelines;
- Remaining competitive on a national and global scale;
- Maintaining access and affordability to Georgia and non-Georgia state residents; and
- Attracting and keeping esteemed faculty who significantly contribute to Tech’s reputation.

The budget cuts as proposed would adversely and drastically impact the previously stated priorities. We respectfully urge legislators to find new sources of revenue to preserve the vision of public higher education - an investment in the state’s future. By identifying new revenue sources, the state can maintain its investment and sustain the quality of public higher education.

For more information on the state's budget challenges and the potential impact on Georgia Tech, please visit the Budget Update Web site www.gatech.edu/budgetupdate.