People all across the nation are getting hit with the effects of a bad economy and it struck Baker University hard this week.

The university is about $1.1 million in the hole regarding the budget and has cut costs in all areas, including layoffs of 23 people who were notified at the end of last week.

And while University President Pat Long and her leadership team are doing all they can to decrease the deficit in the budget without affecting academic integrity, more cuts are set to take place all around the table.

However, it still seems like the areas some employees were laid off in directly impact students.

Cutting positions like the director of student activities and director of study abroad, international and disability services has left some wondering how to deal with those vacancies.

And the question of what students do now that they can’t go to those people and others lingers.

However, Long is handling the budget cuts and layoffs in an open fashion.

Students were informed on where the money is going and how the university plans to weather the storm at a budget forum Tuesday in Rice Auditorium.

Long and others were also present at the student senate meeting Tuesday night to answer any additional questions.

Long’s goal is to be transparent in providing faculty, staff and students information regarding the state of the budget and its effects on tuition, state of financial aid packages and campus renovations and building projects.

While Long is committed to protecting the academic integrity of the institution, which is why faculty weren’t targeted in the layoffs, she is also aware of students concerns and willing to listen, which is a big plus.