Dental Community Reacts to Possible Closure of AASU Dental Hygiene Program

SAVANNAH, Ga. -- The outcry continues over millions in proposed budget cuts at Georgia's public colleges and universities.

At Armstrong Atlantic State University, a plan to shave five million dollars from the budget has put three academic programs at risk. One of those is the school's widely-respected and popular dental hygiene program.

Dr. Matthew Allen, DDS, and Dr. Tait Carpenter, DMD, both know the importance of well-trained dental hygienists. Allen heads the AASU Dental Hygiene Advisory Committee and the Savannah Dental Society. He was surprised and shocked to learn AASU's dental hygiene program could fold.

"It came kind of out of left field. I mean we didn't know it was coming. Armstrong just built a brand new facility, less than two years ago, that's at the Savannah Mall for greater access, to provide their students with a great learning environment that's state of the art. And it was kind of a shock," said Allen.

Carpenter said having the program gives the Coastal Empire a steady supply of personnel.

"They're workforce ready and they're staying in our area. That's the great thing about the hygiene students that graduate from Armstrong," said Carpenter.

They believe the community will ultimately suffer without the services provided by the students.

"Access to care is a huge problem in dentistry right now nationwide, not just in our area, and that clinic that offers discounted services is probably one of the only places close by," said Carpenter.

They hope the program can be saved.

"Not having an ample supply of hygienists is going to provide for a shortage of care for people. As a voice of the dental community, I think it's important that we stand up," said Allen.

Armstrong is facing $5.3 million in proposed cuts from the Legislature. In addition to dental hygiene, the communication sciences and disorders and respiratory therapy programs are also on the chopping block.

In a statement Friday, AASU officials said, "The university is proceeding extremely carefully with a focus on continuing to provide the best possible education to AASU students even as state funding continues to be reduced."

The following letter was written by Dr. Matthew Allen, DDS, Chairman of the AASU Dental Hygiene Advisory Committee and President of the Savannah Dental Society, to the president of Armstrong Atlantic State University.
“Dear Dr. Bleiken,

I am writing to you on behalf of the Dental Hygiene Advisory Committee at Armstrong Atlantic State University and The Savannah Dental Society. I currently serve as the Chairman of the AASU Dental Hygiene Advisory Committee and the President of the Savannah Dental Society. As such, it is my duty to provide a voice to you on matters that affect the dental community, specifically those that involve the dental Hygiene program at AASU.

It has come to my attention that, due to budget constraints placed by the Georgia Legislature and the University System of Georgia, there has been consideration given to the elimination of the dental hygiene program at AASU. I have spoken with many of my fellow members of the advisory board, as well as the leadership of both the Savannah Dental Society and the Southeastern District of the Georgia Dental Association, and it is our opinion that this would have a very negative impact on the local community in the way of creating a drastic shortage of qualified health care providers.

The hygiene program at AASU is vital for a number of reasons. There are currently approximately 600 dentists in the Southeastern District of Georgia for which the program supplies with great personnel. Elimination would result in a drastic supply shortage of providers to service our population, as the next closest accredited program would be nearly 100 miles from the heart of our area. Simply said, graduates of the program stay in the area for their careers and have a profound impact on our local economy. The students at AASU also provide service to the underserved population through many volunteer activities.

It is understood that the dental hygiene program is expensive to run. In the recent past, however, the programs vitality was judged to be so important as to necessitate the construction of a new facility, thereby making it one of the most well equipped and run programs of its kind in the state. The expense to move this facility or begin anew another program would be far more than simply maintaining the current one.

I urge you to take into account the impact your decision will have on not only the dental community, but also the community as a whole. This program is an investment in people capitol. I would be happy to make myself available to speak on the program’s behalf at any meeting of the administration as it pertains to this matter. Thank you for your time and consideration.”

The following statement was released Friday by Armstrong Atlantic State University.
"In February, despite an appeal from University System of Georgia (USG) Chancellor Erroll Davis Jr. that universities have already taken deep cuts, state legislators asked the USG to immediately prepare a plan to address the state’s budget crisis by trimming an additional $300 million from the USG fiscal year 2011 budget. This is in addition to the $265 million reduction already recommended by Governor Perdue for FY 2011.

Armstrong’s share of the $300 million reduction is $5.3 million. The university was asked to submit a plan that would cut that amount from its FY 2011 budget. These proposed cuts come in addition to a reduction of $3.5 million (10 percent of the total appropriated budget) that is already in place for the current fiscal year 2010. These cuts included the elimination of vacant positions – both faculty and staff – slashing operating budgets, cutting energy usage, eliminating one department, and restructuring and consolidating six academic departments into three.

Fulfilling the current request would effectively cut AASU's already-reduced budget by 19 percent. Knowing the depth of these additional cuts and the fact that 76 percent of AASU’s budget goes to support programs and cover personnel costs, the institution cannot possibly meet the additional request for cuts with a reduction in operating costs alone.

It will be necessary to discontinue some specific programs and services. AASU’s outreach programs, including continuing education, the Liberty Center and the Brunswick Center, have been included in the reduction plans. In addition, academic programs will be impacted, including dental hygiene, communication sciences and disorders and respiratory therapy.

The university community is currently in the midst of this process and conversations are being held on campus with the students, faculty and staff who could be affected by reductions. The university is proceeding extremely carefully with a focus on continuing to provide the best possible education to AASU students even as state funding continues to be reduced."