Planning Process
Early each fall, the Director of Fiscal Operations for Academic Affairs sends an information request to department chairs for the coming fiscal year. Required data include:
- New operating funds requests
- New position requests
- Adjunct / Overload needs, if any
- 5 year projection for staffing needs
The allocation for student workers should be considered an operating expense.
In early spring, department chairs will be asked to submit equipment and renovation requests, if there are any.
Chairs are encouraged to involve members of the department in the budgeting process. Information is to be returned to the Director of Fiscal Operations for Academic Affairs by the deadline indicated. Chairs are invited to meet individually with the Dean of Faculty or Director of Fiscal Operations for Academic Affairs to discuss specific program and equipment needs.
Department chairs are notified of their approved budget prior to the beginning of the fiscal year. The budget, expenditures, and unobligated balances in departmental accounts are accessible online through the financial section of
WebAdvisor.
The chair is responsible for keeping expenditures within the limits of the allotted funds. Budgets should be carefully managed near the close of the fiscal year to guard against overspending. Departmental assistants can be helpful in monitoring department accounts throughout the year and communicating any needed account maintenance.
In "My Budget", there are two primary areas for the department chair to review regularly. On the Summary page, the compensation budget for Staff is located in object line 61103. Department chairs should make sure that staff work hours are in agreement with the number of hours budgeted.
The departmental operating budget, which includes object code 61208 through the last object code line beginning with
8, is the second area of which department chairs should maintain awareness. The net total of these accounts should not result in a deficit at the close of the fiscal year.
Department chairs are urged to alert the Director of Fiscal Operations for Academic Affairs to any budgetary concerns they may have as the year progresses. Problems should be raised as they occur, rather than at the end of the fiscal year.