Budgets and Financial Management in Higher Education, 3rd Edition

Book description

This book will help new administrators (department chairs, directors, deans) understand and become more proficient in their financial management role within the institution. Highly accessible, practitioners will be able to put the book's guidance to immediate use in their work. It is also grounded in the latest knowledge base and filled with examples from across all types of institutions, so that it makes an ideal text for a courses in graduate programs in higher education leadership and administration. Specifically, the book:

 •     provides an understanding of the basics of budgeting and fiscal management in higher education

•      defines the elements of a budget, the budget cycle, and the steps for creating a budget

•      suggests ways of avoiding common pitfalls and problems of managing budgets

•      contains effective strategies for dealing with loss of resources

•      includes end-of-chapter reflection questions and an expanded glossary of terms 

Written in plain language this volume provides practical approaches to many complex problems in fiscal management.

This new edition of the book contains new information in every chapter reflecting both the most recent developments in higher education and feedback from readers of the earlier edition.  The information on the current higher education financial environment has been updated, and the case studies have been revised.  Readers will be introduced to Bowen's theory of resources and expenses as an important way to understand budgetary decision making in colleges and universities.  Special attention is paid to the use of restricted funds, the budget implications of faculty appointments and the challenges  caused by personnel policies for staff. In addition,  greater attention is given to development and implementation of repair and replacement programs in auxiliary enterprises.  The challenges that arise when budget problems are postponed are also discussed. The volume contains a number of suggestions for practitioners with new budgeting and fiscal responsibilities. 

Table of contents

  1. Cover
  2. Title Page
  3. Figures, Tables, and Exhibits
  4. Preface
    1. Acknowledgements
  5. About the Authors
  6. 1 The Fiscal Context and the Roleof the Budget Manager
    1. The Fiscal Context of American Higher Education
    2. Differences Between Public and Private Institutions
    3. The Role of a Budget Manager
    4. Why Does All This Matter?
    5. Alpha University
    6. References
    7. Reflection Questions
  7. 2 Primary Elements of the Budget: Revenue and Expenses
    1. Revenues
    2. Expenses
    3. Conclusion
    4. References
    5. Reflection Questions
  8. 3 Understanding Budgets
    1. Purposes of a Budget
    2. Types of Budgets
    3. Organizing and Expressing Budgets
    4. Common Budget Models
    5. Decision Making and Budgets
    6. Conclusion
    7. References
    8. Reflection Questions
  9. 4 Management of the Budget Cycle
    1. General Issues
    2. Developing and Managing the Fiscal Year Operating Budget
    3. Analyze and Repeat
    4. Conclusion
    5. References
    6. Reflection Questions
  10. 5 Understanding Auxiliary and Capital Budgets
    1. Auxiliary Budgets
    2. Forecasting Revenues and Expenses
    3. Paying for Institutional Services and Overhead
    4. Planning for Maintenance and Equipment Replacement
    5. Budgeting for Reserves
    6. Capital Budgets
    7. Common Issues for Capital Budgets
    8. Conclusion
    9. References
    10. Reflection Questions
  11. 6 Problems and Pitfalls in Budget Management
    1. Common Issues
    2. Common Pitfalls
    3. Advice to New Budget Managers
    4. The Attitude Factor
    5. References
    6. Reflection Questions
  12. 7 Managing Budget Fluctuations
    1. Reasons for Budget Cuts
    2. Institutional Approaches to Budget Reductions
    3. Useful Unit Strategies
    4. Managing Budgetary Opportunities
    5. Conclusion
    6. Case Studies
    7. References
  13. Glossary of Terms
  14. Index
  15. End User License Agreement

Product information

  • Title: Budgets and Financial Management in Higher Education, 3rd Edition
  • Author(s): Margaret J. Barr, George S. McClellan
  • Release date: January 2018
  • Publisher(s): Jossey-Bass
  • ISBN: 9781119287735