University president opposes campus closings

COLUMBIA, S.C. - In a state where far too few residents hold a college degree, closing campuses is the wrong way to save money during a recession, the president of the University of South Carolina told legislators Wednesday.

"We can't allow the current crisis to shrink the numbers of South Carolinians who can obtain a college education," Harris Pastides told a House budget-writing panel. "Education is key to the future of our entire state."

In his $5.8 billion budget plan, Gov. Mark Sanford proposed closing three university branches in Allendale, Union and Lancaster counties over two years. The plan would save about $2.4 million in the first year. The Republican governor's three previous calls to close two of the small, two-year branches - Allendale and Union - have gone nowhere.

But Rep. Jim Merrill, R-Charleston, said the idea will get serious discussion this year due to severe budget shortfalls. State revenues have shrunk by $1 billion since July.

"I do think we should close the satellite campuses, maybe two," said the former majority leader and a University of South Carolina graduate. "I think the state as a whole has too many campuses with too much duplication."

Pastides said the university's eight-campus system can find ways to save money and he pledged to have a plan by June. He said closing campuses in rural areas was not the way to start.

Rep. Liston Barfield graduated from former USC branch Coastal Carolina University, which became independent in 1993. He said he did not favor closing the branches.

"It would've been very difficult for me to go anywhere else to school. I'm here because of a branch college," said the Conway Republican. "I know those kids going to that school. I know they wouldn't have the opportunity to go anywhere else."

USC, which boasts 41,000 students and more than 6,000 employees, has lost 23 percent of its state funding since July, or $52 million, Pastides said.

So far, only USC-Sumter has required employees to take mandatory, unpaid leave, but the mandate may spread if cuts continue, he said.

"We're only now gauging how to manage the cuts longer-term," Pastides said. "Everything is being reviewed."

About 23 percent of South Carolina residents 25 and older have at least a bachelor's degree; the national average is about 27 percent, according to the Census.

Citing constant complaints from constituents, Merrill questioned why USC is rejecting so many in-state students if the goal is to increase access to colleges. "You say you want to educate everybody, but you're making your standards so high, students can't get into state schools," he said.

Pastides said South Carolina students not accepted for the main campus in Columbia, where enrollment is 30 percent out-of-state, can attend a branch campus.

Rep. Michael Anthony said that's another reason not to close branches.

"Many of our kids won't qualify for the USC campus because they didn't do the preparations, but they're prepared for a two-year program and can move on," said the Union Democrat. "It's very, very important to the rural areas."

Pastides pledged to keep any tuition increase moderate, recognizing the hardship it creates for students and families, especially during the recession.

Lander University's president, Daniel Ball, was more blunt. Do not cap tuition, he pleaded, a day after Winthrop President Anthony DiGiorgio said he's OK with the Legislature setting a limit.

"We've had a 25-percent cut like everybody else," Ball said about the public liberal arts school in Greenwood, noting Winthrop already charges higher tuition and fees.

The president of the State Board for Technical and Comprehensive Education said "enrollment is booming" at the state's 16 technical colleges - up to 20 percent - as laid off workers seek training for a new job.

Barry Russell said he realized additional money wasn't realistic, but asked lawmakers not to cut anymore.

"A lot of these jobs that are lost are never going to come back," he said, noting that 96 percent of technical students are South Carolinians. "Their only hope is to have the opportunity to retrain for new skills. The technical college system is a large part of the answer. We are the lifeline to throw out to these people."