Faculty Senate Budget Questions for February 14^th Administrative Report

The Faculty Senate requests a written report for future reference. It would be helpful to see some of the requested information in pie charts.

· Funds allocated to UNCA; their sources; their distribution

o How UNCA’s budget is distributed (all major areas): for example,

§ Percentage allocated to Academic Affairs

§ Percentage allocated to Student Affairs

See Figures 1, 2, and 3.

· Funds allocated to Academic Affairs; their sources; their distribution

o How are specific budgets divided among areas of Academic Affairs? (Percentages, and Processes)

Funds are divided up among areas of Academic Affairs based on a formula which takes into account the number of faculty in the department (assuming there are some basic costs, e.g. phone service, for every faculty member) and the number of students served by the department. There are additions to the formula based on previous years spending, regular equipment or other special needs of the department or program, and special one-time needs.

Formula for General [State] Funds:

Department Base Budget = Student Allocation + Faculty Allocation + Faculty Development

FY2006-07 Example:

Student Allocation = Total Number of Students Taught x $6.30

Faculty Allocation = Number of Full-time Faculty x $250.00

Faculty Development = Number of Full-time Faculty x $600.00

Additions to Department Base Budget

Temporary Wages (includes honorarium)

Fees/Licenses (includes insurance costs)

Educational Equipment & Supplies (includes repair and maintenance costs)

Types of Funds:

“2” – General [State] funds

“3” – Receipt; “Unrestricted”; “Institutional”

“5” – Grants or Awards

“8” – Student Organizations & Agency Funds

“9” – Endowment revenue; UNCA Foundation

o Are these budgets fixed, or flexible?

The budgets are flexible, in the sense that money can be moved from one purpose to another, but departments and programs are asked to stay within their budgeted totals. If there is a new need, or an emergency, chairs and program directors can contact their dean for advice.

o What budget decisions are made annually? By whom?

For the last several years, the Academic Affairs funds have been distributed by the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs in consultation and collaboration with the Deans and the Assistant to the Provost for Budgeting (Pat Catterfeld).

o What budget decisions are made on a case-by-case basis? By whom?

Case-by-case decisions for special or one-time needs are made by Senior Staff for general university funds, or by the deans for funds which they control.

o Is there a general, Academic Affairs “slush fund”?

No.

o How does each administrator in Academic Affairs decide on distribution of his or her assigned funds?

Administrator-controlled funds are used for operating expenses (like those allocated to departments and for emergencies or special one-time departmental needs.

o What is the procedure for a department/program/individual faculty member to request funds?

Funding requests should come through the department chair or program directors. If the request is important to the department, then the department is also expected to contribute to the request.

· “In special cases, to promote the strategic plan for a particular academic area, an individual faculty member may directly request funding from a Dean for a project.” [Clarification made by Dr. Sam Schuman 04/10/08]

o Does Academic Affairs receive Foundation money? If so, how is it divided?

Yes. Academic Affairs submits a request each year to the Senior Staff for Foundation funds. This request is considered along with other Foundation requests and recommendations are made by Senior Staff to the Foundation Board, which makes the final decisions.

· What money can be moved from one account to another? For example:

o Can faculty salary money be used for other purposes?

Only if it is “lapsed salaries” – funds which were not expended due to an unfilled position or a position filled at a lower-than-expected rate.

o Can faculty travel funds be used for other purposes?

Yes. We are calling these funds faculty development funds, since the $600 per faculty member can be used for a variety of purposes.

o What money cannot be moved?

Generally, salary funds must be used for salaries. There are some other rules; for example, funds designated for the Library must be used for the library.

· The University Teaching Council and the University Research Councils have budgets.

o What is the procedure for requesting a budget for the University Service Council or the Faculty Mentoring program?

This request should be made through the Provost/Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs.

o What is the procedure for the Faculty Senate to request discretionary funds?

This request should be made through the Provost/Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs.