UCSF Launches Website to Shed Light on Resource Management, Planning and Allocation
UCSF is launching a website to foster communication and understanding about the University's budget and its vision for continuing to serve as one of the country's preeminent health sciences universities.
The website is one way UCSF is moving toward establishing a "regular and transparent campuswide process for planning, budgeting and allocating resources," as recommended in the UCSF Strategic Plan. That plan, unveiled in June 2007, specifically calls on UCSF to "improve accountability and transparency, particularly regarding finances" and to "align resource allocation and decisions with long-term strategic goals and needs identified in the plan."
As part of this new era of transparency regarding UCSF's finances, Senior Vice Chancellor Steve Barclay has issued a letter and budget reports to inform the campus community on the 2008-2009 budget and to explain new initiatives to help UCSF realize the strategic plan.
"While the 2008-2009 budget year is upon us and creating challenges, it is imperative that we keep the big picture in mind," Barclay says. "We cannot lose the momentum that our strategic plan created and we must continue to improve support services while expanding our research and clinical enterprise facilities. We plan to do this by focusing on new funds development and enhancing the frequency and quality of our financial communications."
The budget website, which is part of the communications plan, offers news and information in five categories:
* Resource overview: This section will provide stories about the overall financial condition of the UCSF campus and medical center, as well as the University's impact on the regional economy, workforce and benefits to the community.
* UCSF budget: This section provides news and information that is specific to the UCSF budget, including updates on the campus's spending priorities and plans for fiscal year 2008-2009.
* Future plans: This section focuses on UCSF's long-term plans and priorities to realize the UCSF Strategic Plan, including ways to improve upon its resource management, planning and allocation process.
* Facts & figures: This section is dedicated to pie charts and bar charts, spreadsheets and other graphic data to shed light on UCSF's expenses and revenues.
* Archives: This section provides a complete listing of all stories.
and will be answered by the Office of Budget and Resource Management or the appropriate source. Both the questions and the answers will be posted in the Q&A section on an ongoing basis.
The website also offers links to important UC-related sites, including UCSF's page on the UC advocacy website [UC for California](http://www.ucforcalifornia.org/ucsf/home/) and another website, titled [Investing in California's Future](http://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/news/budget/), which explains the impact of the state budget on the 10-campus University of California system.