ATLANTA -- Administrators at Georgia State University announced Tuesday that the college is ending it's theater program in an effort to close a $3.3 million hole in its budget.

College president Carl Patton revealed the decision during a town hall meeting for students and faculty, many of whom said they were unhappy with the move.

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"I was stunned," said Ray Miller, who has taught theater at the school for 15 years. "I was shocked. It was not at all what I thought would happen at the meeting."

Administrators said they are reexamining the school's budget in light of the state's decision to slash $3.3 million from the GSU budget. Students and faculty may have to accommodate other cuts, including reductions in spending programs and postponement of campus building projects.

Students enrolled in the current theater program will be allowed to complete their degree. And yet, the move has angered many students.

"They just don't realize the importance of the arts," said student Krista Carothers. "Because it's not important to them, it's just not important."

Also, seniors in the program questioned how much a theater degree would mean from a school where the major no longer exists.

Student James Yates said he could be hurt if he decided to pursue further academic studies in theater if his alma mater no longer offers the major.

Administrators defended the cut by saying the program is unlikely to receive additional funding. They said residents should petition lawmakers to restore funding to the state's higher education programs.

"We think higher education is very important to the state," said Ron Henry, provost at the school.

The state's colleges and university are grappling with budget woes due in large part to shaky state finances.

Just recently, the Board of Regents averted a proposed midyear tuition increase for Georgia's public college students and found other ways of handling its budget cuts.

The state's public university system is trying to absorb $64.8 million worth of cuts mandated by state officials.

Last month, system Chancellor Tom Meredith said he would propose an increase in tuition after Gov. Sonny Perdue announced that he wouldn't use an accounting maneuver to balance the state's $16.3 billion budget.

Perdue agreed to cut the university system's share of the budget shortfall from $68 million to $64 million, but Meredith warned that a tuition increase and possibly layoffs would be needed to make up the difference.

In recent weeks, as students and some state officials have rebelled against the notion of a tuition increase, Perdue prodded Meredith and members of the Board of Regents to trim spending to make up a $64 million budget gap.

Channel 2 Action News reporter Carrie Edwards contributed to this report.