Basis for Budget Allocations to the Academic Schools

Salaries and Wages:

Full-time and any continuing half-time faculty and staff are budgeted by position according to the salary established.

Faculty positions are based primarily on credits generated as reflected in the student-faculty ratio (adjusted for graduate and undergraduate course work).  The average is around 15.5 to 1.  New programs and development of new markets may justify additional positions based on potential credit generation.  Otherwise, programs with a high student-faculty ratio (e.g., over 17 to 1) may be considered for a new position, depending on methods of instruction.  And those with a low ratio (e.g., under 14 to 1) may be subject to losing a position.  However, positions are not dropped or reallocated unless reasonable efforts to improve enrollments have been unsuccessful or lack of projected demand is clearly evident.

Support-staff positions in the schools reflect generally the number of FTE faculty.  No specific formula applies, but there is an effort to maintain equity, particularly of secretarial support.  Support positions at issue are those on the regular budget (excluding temporary staff and staff carried on grant funds or special-item appropriations) that directly support faculty efforts in the given school.  Released time from teaching for faculty to assist with administrative work is considered part of funded support.

Summer salaries for faculty are budgeted as a lump sum based on history and projected need.  Compensation for part-time faculty and staff is also budgeted as a lump sum, based on history and projected need.  Part-time faculty members are counted at 0.2 per course per semester/summer.

Graduate assistants are budgeted at three per school times the established pay rate times three terms, though additional ones may be budgeted if graduate enrollment warrants an increase.  Schools may add assistants from their summer/part-time compensation pool, if they choose.

Funds budgeted for full-time or continuing half-time positions can be used only for that purpose. Funds from unfilled positions lapse into the general fund, but may be redirected with approval of the Executive Committee.

Maintenance and Operations:

M & O formula were developed several years ago based on the actual spending histories of the schools.  The rates have been adjusted over time.  A summer school adjustment has been added to compensate for differences among the schools in summer programming.  Rates and allowances may change from year to year, depending on funds available, institutional priorities, and justifiable need.  It is not always possible to deduce the formula amount from the budget without subtracting any line items that may have been added apart from the formula, either as one-time or base funding.  Such amounts may cause the M & O to go up or down from year to year apart from the formula.

In applying the following formula, full-time faculty are counted at one FTE each, including deans; part-time faculty are counted at 20% of full-time FTE.  The count is based on best projections when the budget is being done.  The formula are not intended to precise instruments but rather a means of generating reasonably adequate and reasonably equitable operating funds for each school.

• Conference travel is budgeted by the following formula: number of full-time faculty times the established travel allowance per faculty member.

Current rate:  $800 per full-time faculty member. 
 

• General M & O support is budgeted by the following formula:  FTE faculty and staff times the established support rate per FTE.

Current rate:  $1,150 per FTE faculty and staff. 
 

• Summer M & O supplement is added according to the following formula:  Established M & O support rate times 33% times FTE summer faculty (e.g., $1,150 x .333 = $383 x 10 FTE summer faculty = $3,830).  Four 3-credit courses constitute one FTE for full-time faculty.  For part-time faculty the number is five (.2 x 5 = 1.0).

• Off-campus instructional travel is budgeted as a lump sum, based on history and projected need.  Mileage reimbursement is paid at the state rate.  Rental cars are paid at the contractual rate.  For convenience, the faculty travel stipend to Fort Bend is set at a standard sum for the semester and summer.  For other locations or fewer trips, the stipend is $0.19 a mile for distances over 30 miles from campus.

• Current rate:

 

Fort Bend --$600 per 3-credit semester course of 15-16 trips
$360 per 3-credit summer course, assuming about 10 trips

Other locations or fewer trips -- $0.19 a mile for distances over 30 miles, 1-way

Note:  Part-time faculty members are not eligible for mileage reimbursement or travel stipends, since the state will not allow payment for travel to the primary work site.

Discretionary Funds:

Discretionary funds are budgeted at $100 per faculty and staff FTE, given count at budget time.  Discretionary funds for advisory councils will be budgeted separately.

Line Items:

Schools may also receive line-item allocations for specific ongoing or one-time activities (e.g., funding of the DeLeon Symposium represents an ongoing line-item allocation to Arts and Sciences).  Line items are non-transferable.  Unspent funds lapse or may be carried forward with permission.