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.

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