Budget process yields strategic investments in academics, campus support

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The University of Oregon will make more than $2 million in strategic investments, thanks to a process that occurs as part of the annual budget process.

A 22-person Budget Advisory Group comprised of faculty, students, deans, administrators and staff worked its way through 59 proposals to recommend a short list of funded initiatives, which reflect institutional priorities. The president and provost relied heavily on these recommendations when deciding what to ultimately fund.

According to Jamie Moffitt, chief financial officer and co-chair of the Budget Advisory Group, the group spent considerable time discussing funding recommendations. It was not easy to make investment recommendations given all of the proposed initiatives and the limited funds available.

“The composition of the Budget Advisory Group helped to ensure that we focused on things that will move the university forward in strategic ways,” Moffitt said.

The funded new initiatives include:

  • $500,000 for faculty positions: A professor of clinical trial research design in the College of Education, a professor of nonprofit management in the School of Architecture and Allied Arts and additional funding for strategic cluster hiring.
  • $200,000 in recurring and $300,000 in one-time funds for library collections.
  • $500,000 for campus sexual assault initiative.
  • $102,000 for the College of Arts and Sciences Science Literacy Program.
  • $30,000 for fire system testing.
  • $51,500 for a veteran’s benefits specialist (salary and other payroll expense) in enrollment management.
  • $77,000 for an environmental health and safety lab safety professional (salary and OPE).
  • $198,400 to the Undergraduate Studies Accessible Education Center for two access advisor positions and one accommodations assistant coordinator (salary and OPE).
  • $101,150 to permanently fund the program director position for SAIL (salary and OPE).
  • $40,000 in diversity planning resources for the Division of Equity and Inclusion.
  • $81,500 for administrative support for the Office of the Secretary to the Board of Trustees (salary and OPE).
  • $170,000 for a chief of staff (salary and OPE) in enrollment management.
  • $150,000 for campus planning to develop a science facility modernization plan.
  • $40,000 to develop a mobile interactive web map for campus.

“The university operates with an exceptionally lean budget,” said Frances Bronet, acting provost and senior vice president. “I am thrilled that we have been able to identify and fund opportunities that are so worthy of investment. These initiatives represent a balance of necessary investments and targeted expenditures — a combination of proposals that will have direct benefits on students and our academic mission. Thank you to the Budget Advisory Group for their rigorous evaluation and strong recommendations. ”

— By Tobin J. Klinger, Public Affairs Communications