UNION--The University of South Carolina Union
campus is preparing for another fight to stay open after Gov. Mark Sanford
proposed steep budget cuts for the school.
Sanford's plan would close USC's Salkehatchie campus. The plan calls
for both schools to be phased out over three years, but some said the
proposed first-year cut could be enough to close the doors at Union.
The school fought off a similar proposal last year.
Dean Jim Edwards said enrollment was up to 406, an increase of 30
percent between fall 2003 and fall 2004. Edwards said real-time television
classrooms linking regional campuses in Salkehatchie, Sumter, Lancaster
and Union will be ready by fall, providing access to a bachelor's degree.
But the school's primary mission is to provide a two-year education.
"I had thought that the people of the state and our legislative members
spoke pretty strongly last year, so I was surprised to see it again," said
Edwards, in his 13th year leading the school. "Anytime someone like the
chief executive of the state comes up with a plan and recommends an
action, you have to take it seriously."
Sanford's spokesman Will Folks said difficult decisions have to be made
because the state can't continue "to fund everything we'd like to fund in
South Carolina." The governor's $5.3 billion budget for next year
increases higher-education spending slightly, Folks said.
Eliminating USC Union would save about $900,000 in the next three
years, Sanford's budget says.
Rep. Mike Anthony, D-Union, said he understands that Sanford is looking
at the bottom line, but the campus allows many kids that wouldn't go to
college an opportunity.
"We'll fight this to the end," Anthony said. "We've got enough votes, I
think."
The school has two primary buildings and three auxiliaries and about 25
faculty members.
Edwards said most two-year students at the Union campus go on to USC
Upstate, located in nearby Spartanburg.
Folks said the state has "too many schools, duplicated programs and
wasted resources."
"The governor's budget was simply focused on providing quality programs
at reasonable rates," he said.