University Budget Council

Fiscal Year 2023 Budget Requests

• Budget Request Guidelines
• University Budget Council Budget Request Scoring Matrix
• University Priorities
• HEF Guidelines

UBC Overview

The UBC will serve in an advisory capacity to the president with the primary focus to help ensure that the university’s priorities are reflected in the operating budget through coordinated consultation, discussion, education, and outreach to the University community.

Members of the UBC will share a commitment to transparency in fiscal decision-making and serve to inform the university community about operating budget matters. The UBC will facilitate communication regarding the operating budget in a transparent and informative manner with the university community.

The UBC will seek input from the university community about general operating budget matters as a means to inform priority funding recommendations.

The UBC shall review current year forecasts of the operating budget and cash flow throughout the year and longer-range projections at least annually.

In times of operating budget reversions, the council will review and recommend budget reduction plans.

The UBC will work with the university community to establish priority funding recommendations based on the university’s strategic plan.

UBC Charge

Charge as of Sept. 26, 2022:

The University Budget Council (UBC) will serve in an advisory capacity to the president with a primary focus of ensuring that the university’s priorities are reflected in the operating budget, capital budget funded by higher education funds (HEF), and Legislative Appropriations Request (LAR) exceptional items. 

The work of the UBC will be conducted through coordinated consultation, discussion, education, and outreach to the University community.   Members of the UBC will share a commitment to transparency in fiscal decision-making and will serve to inform the university community about budget matters within its purview.

The UBC will seek input from the university community about budgetary matters as a means to inform funding recommendations.  Priority funding recommendations are to be developed by the UBC regarding the operating budget, capital budget funded by HEF, and LAR exceptional items. These recommendations pertain to regular budget development processes as well as mid-year budget adjustments, based on budgetary forecasts provided by the VPFA. 

The UBC will review operating budget performance throughout the year and longer-range projections at least annually, as part of the budget development process.

All UBC recommendations will be presented to the president for consideration in budgetary processes.

Original Charge:

• Provide oversight of the annual budget preparation process.
• Review the proposed operating budget. 
• Participate in the development of the university funding initiatives which are submitted biennially to state agencies in Austin. 
• Focus on ensuring university operating and capital budget proposals are balanced and achievable.
• Provide oversight and recommendations regarding the university’s budget policies for sponsored activity, investment pool payout activity, designated funds, and capital campaign funds.
• Meet at least once monthly throughout the academic year.
• Assist in developing quarterly budget dashboards to be shared with campus.  

There is an expectation that UBC members will represent the best interests of the university, not advocate for individual units. UBC members are asked to commit to active and engaged participation in the council’s work.  The University Budget Council’s work will be presented to the president and cabinet for endorsement followed by submission to the Board of Regents for approval

Plenary UBC Responsibilities

Review the work of all subcommittee reports, aggregating relevant information to make informed budget recommendations which are aligned with university priorities and achieve balanced and achievable operating budgets. This work relates especially to:

1. Mid-year reductions in budgets (supported primarily by subcommittees 1 & 2)
2. Review of all proposed budgets, including the implementation of any spending cuts or increased expenditures (supported primarily by subcommittees 1 & 3)
3. Biennial budget request development (supported primarily by subcommittees 1 & 4)

* When developing reports, processes, and procedures, special consideration should be given to proper documentation in order to provide guidance to new committee members in subsequent years.

University Budget Council Members

*Indicates subcommittee chair