AUGUSTA, GA (WFXG) -
It's been one week since the
sequestration deadline and local universities like Georgia Regents University
and Paine College are already starting to see its impact.
Mark Hamrick, Senior Vice President
for Research at Georgia Regents University, said there are concerns among
students, scientists, and researchers.
"That's the fear that they
that see this is not long term, a viable enterprise," said Hamrick.
A week following the sequester deadline, GRU now
knows it could face a five to ten percent reduction from an $80 million
research fund.
A harsh reality that Hamrick said
will impact research stipends for graduate students as well as limit the amount
of resources and materials for med students during summer research programs.
"It has far reaching
implications not only for the research that we do to improve the quality of
life for our patients but also impacts our students as well," said
Hamrick.
However, it's not just GRU
students that will be affected by the research cuts. Brandon Brown, Vice
President of Institutional Advancement at Paine College, said they will have to
make changes to one of their summer enrichment programs.
"We tentatively expected
that budget to be reduced so we may have to limit the amount of students we
serve this summer," said Brown. "So anywhere from $3,000 to $200,000 could be
cut out of that particular program this year."
Despite these challenges, officials
at both universities said they are prepared to manage.
"We work with what we have
and we still produce a good product," said Brown.
"We just need to be as crafty as we can in
terms of moving things forward," said Hamrick.
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