Academic Leadership Toolkit
Office of Faculty Development and Advancement
Budget Proposals
Overview:
Each year, the Division of Academic Affairs requests budget proposals from the deans of colleges and directors of independent schools. Deans/directors rely, in turn, on budget requests from department chairs to shape their requests. The timing of request deadlines as well as distribution of funds is dependent on a number of factors, including the legislative calendar, strategic goals of university leadership, and protocols specific to colleges/schools. Generally, chairs should consult with their faculty in the spring in order to be able to respond to deans’ requests in a timely manner. Other, more minor budget proposals that chairs might respond to include requests for minor renovations and ideas for utilizing student technology fees.
Goals:
- To build an Academic Affairs budget from the ground-up based on specific requests for faculty lines, support for graduate students, and other department needs.
- To make those determinations in the context of the University’s Strategic Plan.
Authority and Responsibility:
- Chairs have the responsibility of including faculty in budget discussions, then determining an appropriate request in light of the department’s contribution to the university strategic goals.
- Deans weigh these requests from chairs, alongside their own leadership priorities, in that same context.
- The Provost exercises judgment regarding the final Academic Affairs budget, in consultation with the President.
- The Provost’s staff coordinates all aspects of the process.
Common Pitfalls:
- Not keeping budget requests on faculty meeting agendas throughout the year so that when the invitation to submit comes from the Provost’s Office, the unit is unprepared.
- Sufficient justification is sometimes not provided to help the Provost understand a department’s needs.
Resources:
- Florida State University’s Strategic Plan
- FSU Financial Policies and Procedures on Finance and Administration Website