Inside Iowa State

March 9, 2007

Two new teams spearhead implementation phase for budget model

by Anne Krapfl

In the six weeks since President Gregory Geoffroy decided the university will adopt a new budget model for FY09, pre-implementation work has rolled on. In January, Geoffroy gave executive vice president and provost Elizabeth Hoffman the job of guiding implementation of the new budget model, so much of the work has moved under the provost's umbrella.

BMRIC's final report

The 16 members of the Budget Model Review and Implementation Committee (BMRIC) expect to complete their third (and last) report later this semester. Geoffroy appointed the BMRIC members last July to coordinate a review of what at that time was a proposed model.

The committee's final report is expected to be a compilation of its October and January reports. It will be a manual of sorts on the concept and theory of the new model, called the resource management model.

"It will be one document that provides as much detail about the model as we can provide at this time," said Doug Epperson, LAS associate dean and BMRIC chair. "We'll reaffirm the implementation dates and some basic operational requirements, but it won't contain any operational detail. That will be filled in later by the next teams."

BMRIC's assignment is done when the report is completed.

Implementation teams

At the same time, Hoffman has appointed two teams that will lead and coordinate actual implementation of the new model.

The Leadership and Transition Team will oversee broad university issues and processes that will affect implementation. It will be responsible for things such as developing policies, forming advisory committees, building relationships, guiding a shift in ISU's budget culture and responding to implementation issues raised by the vice presidents or deans.

This team is facilitated by associate vice president for budget and planning Ellen Rasmussen and its members represent broad university areas and populations.

Members of the Operations Team will identify and make necessary changes to systems, processes and data. The team's work will be done by task groups that focus on things such as:

• Tuition revenue: distribution and projections
• Indirect costs: distribution and projections
• Expense allocations
• Implementation issues at the college level

The Operations Team is facilitated by Dave Biedenbach, program manager in the provost office. Its members are budget and data specialists.

Comments or suggestions on the resource management model still may be sent to: budgetmodel@iastate.edu.

BMRIC is wrapping up its final report, while two teams have been appointed to lead the implementation phase. Executive vice president and provost Elizabeth Hoffman is responsible for guiding the process.