The chair has ultimate responsibility for oversight of the department budget. 

Financial management is a year-round activity. Chairs (and, in some instances, Associate Chairs) are the only people in the department who have the authority to sign requests for spending the department's budget up to their purchasing threshold based on college procurement policies. Chair's limit for procurement and contracts is up to $10,000 for one-time/non-recurring contracts. The fiscal year ends on June 30.

Your department budget can be found in Banner and is emailed to the chair monthly. To access on line assistance on performing a basic Budget Query, please go to the Finance Office.

Generally, departmental operating budgets (Fund 110002) are assumed to remain at previous year's level. 

1. In Spring, the Capital Equipment Request is an opportunity for departments seeking capital equipment to list the specific equipment and costs they propose. Department Chairs assign each item a priority. These requests are reviewed by both the Dean's Office and the College Equipment Committee before recommendations are made to the President. Requests for Kresge funds are reviewed along with college capital funds. Departments are expected to first use their endowment and gifts when available for purchases.

2. When available, a call for proposals for increases in operating budget will be sent to chairs. 

3. Gift funds and endowment funds. Departments are expected to first use gift and endowment funds before using tuition-based operating budget funds (Fund 110002-######) or before requesting additional funds. 

4. Stewardship. Departments are expected to submit stewardship reports to advancement for all endowment funds.