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February 9, 1998
TO: CAMPUS COMMUNITY
I am writing to announce the formation of the Campus Financial Management Program (CFMP), which is intended to address the challenges posed by the changes taking place in the campus's financial environment. Over the past decade, many financial processes have been decentralized, with authority being delegated to a much larger number of campus faculty and staff. This has significantly changed the way in which we exercise our stewardship over our campus's financial resources, which is an issue of great importance to the Regents and to the public.
The goals of this program are to maintain a strong, cost-effective campus financial control and accountability environment, and ensure that responsibility for financial controls is assigned to the appropriate level. To accomplish this, we plan to identify and address financial accountability and business ethics issues; develop a code of business ethics based on shared values; identify and address concerns over financial roles and responsibilities; and develop programs, materials, and support mechanisms to assist those involved in campus business matters.
The CFMP will take place over two phases. The first will involve assessing the present campus financial control and accountability environment on a broad scale. Interviews with about three dozen key campus faculty and staff members have already taken place. A confidential survey of approximately 300 campus faculty and staff members will take place over the week of March 9, 1998. The survey will be designed to identify areas where the campus is at risk of not being able to fulfill its financial stewardship role. Finally, on the morning of April 2, 1998, all survey participants will be invited to attend an Interactive Campus Financial Management Conference to review and further examine the issues identified from the interviews and survey. OptionFinder, an electronic polling device, will be used to obtain immediate, confidential feedback from all participants and to promote interaction.
The second phase of the CFMP will involve developing and implementing programs that will strengthen and streamline the campus financial control environment. This is likely to include developing a code of business ethics, developing financial management programs and materials providing guidance to the campus community on practical, cost-effective campus business practices that enhance financial control and accountability, and providing business management consulting resources to Service Centers. A steering committee has been organized to provide leadership over the development of the program. It consists of sixteen members with significant campus financial responsibilities, representing both academic and administrative administration, sponsored research, student services, and campuswide management.
Should you receive an invitation to participate in completing the survey and to attend the Interactive Campus Financial Management Conference, we would appreciate your taking the time to do so. The information you provide to us will be very valuable in developing the program. Should members of your staff be asked to participate, we would appreciate your allowing them time to participate. The success of this program is dependent on the cooperation and support of everyone on the campus. I believe that the program will put the campus in an excellent position to meet both current and future challenges. I hope you will join me in making the program a success. Thank you.
Sincerely,
Thomas Vani
Vice Chancellor
Business and Administrative Services