Augusta State University President William Bloodworth said in a news conference today that potential state funding cuts for next year aren't looking as bleak and programs that might have been cut no longer seem in danger.

"The governor has made another proposal that gives us some hope," the president said, adding "I think it's highly unlikely we would be eliminating those programs."

Among the ASU programs that were on a potential list of cuts was the school's nursing program. Bloodworth said the governor's latest proposal is about a third of the cuts that had previously been discussed through the University System of Georgia Chancellor's Office. Bloodworth said any cuts that might come now would most likely be to non-academic areas.