COM Leads Off 2022-23 CDU Budget Committee Presentations
I. Provost Michael’ s Introductory Remarks
Beginning January 24th, Provost Steven Michael convened a University-wide series of budget meetings. These meetings were open to faculty, staff and other stakeholders with the intent of shedding additional light on the campus-wide budgeting process. The College of Medicine went first, followed on successive days by COSH, the School of Nursing and other academic units.
Dr. Michael opened the meetings with a high-level teaching moment. He provided perspective in noting that CDU is the third institution where he has been employed as Provost. To amplify his intentions with these presentations, he provided a series of slides that offered an overview of the importance of the budget meetings.
The purpose included:
• They provide critical information for Universitylevel budget presentations.
• They educate the campus community regarding academic progress and change.
• They provide a forum for academic unit leaders to share plans for their respective unit.
• They provide an opportunity for the campus community to learn and contribute their input to the management and direction of academic programs.
• They provide information that enables the CDU community to appreciate the work of those involved.
The Provost stressed his take on the process: everybody on campus is a builder, a theme that he has publicly expressed in a variety of settings. Everyone participates in building the University, and contribute by adding, changing, and improving CDU. Successes were demonstrated graphically in his overview through the degree and certificate programs added every year and the operating revenue resultantly generated.
In one graph, a 41.7 % increase in student enrollment( 637 to 1092) was noted between the 2013 and 2021 academic census. The budget process thereby provided concrete data to support the effort to make improvements. But he also noted, amidst the optimism, a 7 % recent student decline during the COVID era. A primary reason why academic enrollment is important is that it is reflected on a fiscal management basis in tuition and fees. Every department, the Provost noted, can be distilled down through a budgetary breakdown.
The proposed budget plan for FY 2022-23 includes this year’ s areas of focus including:
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New programs Student enrollment Retention and graduation rates External examination pass rates Research activities Grant activities Student satisfaction Faculty and Staff workplace welfare Program reputation and image Building and infrastructure development and maintenance
The Provost noted that these are the areas that the University’ s budget deliberations take into consideration either directly or by implication. The final budget will be submitted to the Board of Trustees prior to the June meeting.
CDU College of Medicine | PG. 8