By HANA KIM
6 News Reporter
JEFFERSON CITY (WATE) - On Saturday Carson Newman College explained their cuts to 6 News amid these hard economic times. Jobs and several programs are on the chopping block.
Students and parents toured Carson Newman on Saturday in the midst of the private college cutting several programs and workforce by 3 percent.
"It was exactly done to keep tuition down," said Senior Director of Communications Parker Leake.
Leake says 11 positions will be slashed including five faculty members.
Programs including French, Athletic Training and Computer Information Systems will no longer be offered as majors.
"They didn't have a strong following among our students, they had two to three students as majors so they were not cost effective," said Leake.
The college says the small number of students in the programs will be accommodated until they graduate so their majors will not affected.
The college does not have an exact figure, but they estimate they will save about $1 million with the cuts.
"Our tuition hike for 2012 to 2013 academic year will be 4.2 percent. That's really low, you look at anybody anywhere in the country, that's a very responsible increase that goes right to what President Obama is asking colleges to do keep that cost down," said Leake.
Leake said the cuts are necessary to keep the tuition rate as low as possible.
"If a student is motivated and driven to get that education there are resources available at almost every school. They can't be afraid to ask, even the schools with the big price tag have a lot of financial aid. I know we have a really good program here at Carson Newman," said Leake.
Carson Newman students are paying $20,562 right now. With the upcoming 4.2 percent tuition hike, students in the fall will pay a ballpark of about $21,400.
Meanwhile the cuts also include outsourcing the college's housekeeping staff of 44 people.
The college says hopefully the private company will keep many of the staff.
