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January 17,
2008
Overview
The Academic Affairs Budget Advisory Process is a year
round, evolving process designed to advise the Provost on unit performance and
the allocation or resources in academic affairs, including the colleges and
research units. Key elements of the process include:
(a)
the Academic Affairs Budget Advisory Team (AABAT), which is a committee
of academic and fiscal administrators and faculty, that provides input, advice,
and feedback throughout the process;
(b)
annual reports by units following a standard template including academic,
research, and service productivity with data, including trends and comparisons;
(c)
annual budget plans including priorities for faculty positions to be
filled with available funds;
(d)
presentations of plans and reports by deans and directors with questions
and constructive feedback by AABAT; and
(e)
periodic review by AABAT of report formats and the overall process.
It is important to note that the process is a work in
progress. It is designed to provide consistent data to inform planning and
decisions and to assure a measure of accountability, oversight, and
transparency. Working with AABAG, we will continue to refine the process each
year as needed.
Process Description
Each summer, departments and research units complete a unit
report following a standard format (Appendix A). The unit report format is
synchronized with the periodic program review criteria (http://www.umaine.edu/provost/program_criteria.html)
and the evolving process of reporting on student learning outcomes assessment as
required by our regional the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC).
College annual reports are comprised of unit reports along
with additional elements. Deans and the VP for Research submit reports, which
they then presented to AABAT in the Fall and early Spring. The members of AABAT
are asked to view these reports from a campus perspective, asking questions and
providing constructive feedback. Through this process, the AABAT members become
familiar with the performance and challenges of the units within Academic
Affairs.
During the Spring semester, as the budget situation for the
coming year unfolds, deans are asked to prepare budget plans and work with their
colleges to justify and prioritize those faculty positions they plan to fill
with available funds. The Spring budget process and the requirements for the
budget plans are included in Appendix B.
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