'Doomsday' budget is a disaster for SU - Janet Dudley-Eschbach, Delmarva

The fact that the Maryland General Assembly adjourned the 2012 session without resolution on our state's operating budget has widespread implications. Should our legislators not resolve the budget impasse in a special session, the so-called "doomsday" budget will go into effect on July 1. While every state agency would be impacted, the severe budget cuts will be especially hard on Salisbury University's students and their families, as well as our dedicated faculty and staff. It is no secret that SU has been growing in academic stature, experiencing significant increases in the number and quality of applications for seats in our freshman and transfer classes. As this trend continues, so too do the number of calls to my office from Maryland taxpayers asking, "Why can't my son or daughter be admitted to SU?" The answer is we simply do not have the capacity. Even as student demand soars, we are unable to grow in enrollment.