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ESU Looking For Ways To Trim The Deficit

EAST STROUDSBURG — Some students at East Stroudsburg University are upset to hear how the school plans to handle a $3 million budget deficit. University a...

EAST STROUDSBURG -- Some students at East Stroudsburg University are upset to hear how the school plans to handle a $3 million budget deficit.

University administrators are looking at possibly downsizing departments as one option to close the gap.

Administrators are considering cuts in several departments which could mean fewer classes and fewer faculty members.

More than 6,000 students are enrolled at East Stroudsburg University this year.

Sophomore Carolyn Mosher says she chose to transfer to ESU because of its small class sizes.

"I like when I have more one-on-one time with teachers and be able to, you know, have them at least know my name, and not just be a number," Mosher said.

While East Stroudsburg University may have a small class setting, university administrators say the classes are getting a little too small.  In fact, enrollment has been dropping for four years and so has state funding, creating a $3 million deficit in the proposed budget for the next academic year.

"There's going to be changes, obviously."

Sophomore Lisa Bou is right.

Administrators are looking at 13 departments at the school to see if they can consolidate classes or cut faculty.

One of those departments getting a hard look is the chemistry department inside the Science and Technology Center.

"I think it's unfair."

Rachel Ruckel plans to major in philosophy which is another department that's under the microscope.

"It makes me scared, too because I want to take as many classes in it and experience what other students had a couple years ago."

Another department that could be affected political science. That's where Brianna Gibbons spends a lot of her class time.

"It made me nervous because now I'm not going to get the opportunities other students already had with all the different classes."

Mosher is majoring in special education, another department getting a hard look.

"If the school could come together to raise money or something like that, to kind of be a family."

East Stroudsburg University administrators have until October 30 to decide on cuts in programs and faculty. Non-faculty employees could also be affected.

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