Message from the Dean
Budget Allocation
(Posted 26 Jan 2023)
The January 24 edition of Penn State Today features an article on the new budget allocation model, including a context and rationale for the model, as well as the amounts of the new strategic funds available. The article references the budget allocation approach website, which lists the amount of funding that colleges and other budget units across the University will receive next fiscal year. These amounts were not shared in the December town hall.
I am sure the article prompts many questions, so as a follow-up, I want to explain how the College of Arts and Architecture is responding to the new budget allocation model and reiterate some key points. I understand and appreciate the importance of transparency, particularly during this challenging time, and I am committed to sharing as much information as I can, as soon as I can, depending on the latitude I have been granted.
For clarity, the University defines a college as a unit; schools, departments, and programs are not units.
The College of Arts and Architecture’s allocation for FY24 is $38,052,645, representing a 4 percent decrease from FY23. In FY25, the model anticipates another 4 percent reduction. The new central budget allocation is based on the new model that draws from student credit hours and enrollment headcounts (majors), averaged over three years. With changes in enrollments and headcounts in subsequent years, these allocations should change accordingly each year starting in FY26. The Palmer Museum of Art, Center for the Performing Arts, and Blue Band are funded through a separate budget allocation.
The new budget will go into effect on July 1, 2023, the start of FY24, pending Board of Trustees approval. All individual annual allocations to colleges and other budget units across the University are available at https://budgetandfinance.psu.edu/budget-allocations. For comparison, you can find information on the FY23 budget here: https://budget.psu.edu/BOTJuly/JulyBoard.aspx.
Keep in mind our college and the other budget units across the University can draw on smaller sources of funding to comprise their overall budgets in addition to their central allocation. Other sources include gifts, grant funding from external foundations and agencies, and endowments that come with flexible terms of use.
The new budget allocation model does not capture all of the nuance and complexity of Penn State. As a result, funds are being made available to strategically invest across the institution in colleges, campuses, and other budget units. I am currently working with our college financial officer (FO), department heads, school directors, directors, and deans to create a list of requests for these strategic funds. Our requests will be in line with the intention of the funds – to provide necessary budgetary support to colleges and campuses for aspects the model does not capture, such as cost of instruction.
I am meeting weekly with our college FO, unit heads, directors, and deans to discuss overall college budget requests for fiscal years 2024 and 2025. In addition, as part of my commitment to sharing information, I am planning to meet with each of our college departments, schools, and engagement units over the next few weeks to answer questions from faculty and staff. In the meantime, I encourage you to advocate for an increase in state appropriation funding to Penn State by signing this petition: https://www.govt.psu.edu/advocate/.
I know many members of our college community have expressed concerns about how the new budget allocation will affect individual programs and personnel, and especially the pedagogical approaches in our college, with many contact hours, that are not reflected in the budget model. We do not yet have clarity about what the new budget allocation will mean for us next year and beyond. What is crystal clear is that the new budget model compels us to redouble our efforts across the college to increase revenues, decrease spending where we can, and advocate for the value and necessity of the arts, design, research and creative activity, and community engagement work our college contributes to the University and society.
This is a challenging time for Penn State across the board. We will continue to rely on the collaboration and creativity that are the hallmarks of the College of Arts and Architecture. Thank you for your continued commitment to our college.
B. Stephen Carpenter II
Michael J. and Aimee Rusinko Kakos Dean in the College of Arts and Architecture
Budget Allocation
(Posted 26 Jan 2023)
The January 24 edition of Penn State Today features an article on the new budget allocation model, including a context and rationale for the model, as well as the amounts of the new strategic funds available. The article references the budget allocation approach website, which lists the amount of funding that colleges and other budget units across the University will receive next fiscal year. These amounts were not shared in the December town hall.
I am sure the article prompts many questions, so as a follow-up, I want to explain how the College of Arts and Architecture is responding to the new budget allocation model and reiterate some key points. I understand and appreciate the importance of transparency, particularly during this challenging time, and I am committed to sharing as much information as I can, as soon as I can, depending on the latitude I have been granted.
For clarity, the University defines a college as a unit; schools, departments, and programs are not units.
The College of Arts and Architecture’s allocation for FY24 is $38,052,645, representing a 4 percent decrease from FY23. In FY25, the model anticipates another 4 percent reduction. The new central budget allocation is based on the new model that draws from student credit hours and enrollment headcounts (majors), averaged over three years. With changes in enrollments and headcounts in subsequent years, these allocations should change accordingly each year starting in FY26. The Palmer Museum of Art, Center for the Performing Arts, and Blue Band are funded through a separate budget allocation.
The new budget will go into effect on July 1, 2023, the start of FY24, pending Board of Trustees approval. All individual annual allocations to colleges and other budget units across the University are available at https://budgetandfinance.psu.edu/budget-allocations. For comparison, you can find information on the FY23 budget here: https://budget.psu.edu/BOTJuly/JulyBoard.aspx.
Keep in mind our college and the other budget units across the University can draw on smaller sources of funding to comprise their overall budgets in addition to their central allocation. Other sources include gifts, grant funding from external foundations and agencies, and endowments that come with flexible terms of use.
The new budget allocation model does not capture all of the nuance and complexity of Penn State. As a result, funds are being made available to strategically invest across the institution in colleges, campuses, and other budget units. I am currently working with our college financial officer (FO), department heads, school directors, directors, and deans to create a list of requests for these strategic funds. Our requests will be in line with the intention of the funds – to provide necessary budgetary support to colleges and campuses for aspects the model does not capture, such as cost of instruction.
I am meeting weekly with our college FO, unit heads, directors, and deans to discuss overall college budget requests for fiscal years 2024 and 2025. In addition, as part of my commitment to sharing information, I am planning to meet with each of our college departments, schools, and engagement units over the next few weeks to answer questions from faculty and staff. In the meantime, I encourage you to advocate for an increase in state appropriation funding to Penn State by signing this petition: https://www.govt.psu.edu/advocate/.
I know many members of our college community have expressed concerns about how the new budget allocation will affect individual programs and personnel, and especially the pedagogical approaches in our college, with many contact hours, that are not reflected in the budget model. We do not yet have clarity about what the new budget allocation will mean for us next year and beyond. What is crystal clear is that the new budget model compels us to redouble our efforts across the college to increase revenues, decrease spending where we can, and advocate for the value and necessity of the arts, design, research and creative activity, and community engagement work our college contributes to the University and society.
This is a challenging time for Penn State across the board. We will continue to rely on the collaboration and creativity that are the hallmarks of the College of Arts and Architecture. Thank you for your continued commitment to our college.
B. Stephen Carpenter II
Michael J. and Aimee Rusinko Kakos Dean in the College of Arts and Architecture
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