Process review of redesigned budget model underway
Special committee established to review progress in implementation of new model
A budget model and budget process review steering committee has been established to review the implementation of the university’s redesigned budget model.
Implemented in 2018-19, the redesigned budget model was created with the purpose of forming better linkages between planning and resource allocation in support of the university’s mission and priorities.
These goals include aligning resource management, planning, and allocation with the university’s mission and strategic priorities, enhancing collaboration between and within academic and central support units, incentivizing creativity, innovation and the pursuit of revenue opportunities to position the university for a strong, sustainable future, promoting fiscal understanding, responsibility and accountability throughout the university, and maintaining openness and transparency.
“The intent of the new budget model was to ensure that we are allocating our resources to best support our academic mission,” says Greg Smith, Vice-Provost (academic planning and programs). “Nearly five years on, we’re now looking back and taking stock of what our successes have been and where we need to improve.”
At the time the new model was adopted, there was a commitment to annual review and updates to the budget model and budgeting practices as well as a commitment to engage the community in a more substantial review at the five year mark. Now, having reached that point, a budget model and budget process review steering committee has been formed to assess the success of the new model in moving towards these goals. The committee will consider recommendations gathered through the course of the review to provide advice on potential modifications and improvements.
“The work of this committee will provide a greater understanding of how we are moving towards our objectives and recommend ways in which we can improve our model and our budget process to better meet them,” says Diane Hiebert-Murphy, Provost and chair of the budget steering committee.
Huron, an external consultant who assisted the University with the planning and implementation of the current budget model, will be managing the consultation process which will include more than thirty consultation sessions.
Following an overview presentation of the redesigned budget by President Benarroch and CFO and Comptroller Mike Emslie at a Town Hall on 28 September 2022, the university began soliciting feedback from university stakeholders, faculty and staff, a process which is still ongoing.
Members of the university community are invited and encouraged to provide their feedback on the current budget model and budgeting process by filling out the questionnaire or by email to: BudgetConsultation [at] umanitoba [dot] ca.
More information on our budget model and the budget cycle may be found on the budgeting website.