Timing of Budget Model Process

The call to develop a new budget model was shared with campus leadership in midspring 2018, about two months before a significant budget reduction as announced. The two activities, sometimes confused, are separate. A budget reduction lessens the amount of overall funds allocated across units, whereas the budget model changes how the allocation of those funds across units is determined. Importantly, a budget model does not cause an overall budget reduction and in fact, a well-designed budget model should prevent future budget reductions, or at least lessen their severity in extreme financial times.

Hundreds of hours of campus discussions, work sessions, research and collaboration with other institutions, model testing and review have been put into developing the new model for KU Lawrence. Interim Provost Carl Lejuez has led:

• 4 town halls/campus conversations on the new budget model
• Weekly meetings with leadership team, including deans
• Weekly meetings with the Budget Model Working Group.
• Regular meetings with University Governance senates, leadership, and executives
• More than 100 small group and individual meetings around campus
• Faculty/staff assemblies and chairs meetings
• Nine stakeholder advisory board meetings, both internal and external.

A look at the budget model development and implementation process includes a look at what has already transpired and a look toward what remains to be implemented. As KU implements portions of the Priority Centered Management model, it will be informed by an annual calendar characterized by major recurring administrative activities.

[enlarge image]

Annual Calendar

January

• Metrics Analysis
• Prep for Presentations

February

• Metric Presentations
• Phase 1 of Budget Prep Due (PBCS)

March

• Draft Budgets Received by 3/1
• Performance Evaluations Due
• Final Budgets Received by 3/15
• Course fee changes due by 3/25

April

• Phase 2 of Budget Prep Due (PBCS)
• Tuition Proposal to KBOR

May

• KBOR Tuition Proposal — First Read

June

• KBOR Tuition Proposal — Second Read
• Fiscal Year End

July

• Fiscal Year Start
• Carryforward Meetings

Fall

• Centrally generated metrics available