By Mark Millican

markmillican@daltoncitizen.com

As of the end of December, there will no longer be an automotive technology program at Dalton State College. Officials say it has nothing to do with the recent directive within the University System of Georgia to cut budgets by 5 percent.

The number of students in the auto tech program has been falling: 22 students in 2005, 19 in 2006, 12 in 2007 and “8 or 9 to finish out the program in 2008,” said Charles Johnson, the new dean of the school of technology at DSC.

“Students want a higher demand program now,” said Scott Bailey, vice president for fiscal affairs. “They’re moving away from that area and going into other programs.”

Those include the health-related side of vocational curriculum such as the licensed practical nurse school, radiology technology, respiratory therapy and X-ray technology, to name a few. Dalton State will keep its welding program.

Colleges nationwide are feeling the current economic pinch, and that includes Dalton State, even though enrollment for the fall semester has been heavy, said Jodi Johnson, vice president of enrollment and student services. Enrollment last spring was approximately 4,500.

“Advance registration is very strong,” Johnson reported. “We’ve had a lot of students for orientation, and all indications are that we will have a strong fall enrollment. But we’ve still got four weeks to go. We have a few students who will be finishing out the (auto tech) program. But we’re not expecting a decrease in registration for the winter semester because of that. Increases in other programs would offset any decline.”

Classes begin on Aug. 18.

Technical education classes were authorized at Dalton State in 1973, with auto tech gearing up in September of 1974.

Although officials at the University of Georgia are saying layoffs are possible because of the 5 percent cut in budgets required in the regents system, that doesn’t appear to be the case at Dalton State.

“Of course, it will hurt,” Bailey said, mentioning cutting expenses “across the board,” from deferring new purchases in X-ray equipment to vehicles and computer software.

“We may not be purchasing the newest technology,” he continued, “but we’re not anticipating layoffs. We’ll be reducing program expenses, travel expenses, and especially operations and equipment. We’ll be looking at ways to be more efficient in our operations. We’ll be going longer with the equipment we already have and buying used equipment if we have to.”

Bailey also said the college will delay hiring or “not fill positions” in staffing areas, but added there would be “no layoffs in the classroom,” referring to instructors.