Budgets and Financial Management in Higher Education - 3rd Edition by Margaret J Barr & George S McClellan (Hardcover)

About the Book

"In today's challenging economic climate, college and university administrators need reliable financial advice for helping their institutions thrive. Thoroughly revised and updated, this book is designed to help new administrators understand and become more proficient in their financial management role within the institution. Written in an accessible style, so that the book's guidance to immediate use, the book is grounded in the latest knowledge and filled with illustrative examples from across all types of institutions. This is an ideal resource for courses in graduate programs in higher education leadership and administration"--

Book Synopsis

This book will help new administrators (department chairs, directors, deans) understand and become more proficient in their financial management role within the institution. Highly accessible, practitioners will be able to put the book's guidance to immediate use in their work. It is also grounded in the latest knowledge base and filled with examples from across all types of institutions, so that it makes an ideal text for a courses in graduate programs in higher education leadership and administration. Specifically, the book:

- provides an understanding of the basics of budgeting and fiscal management in higher education

- defines the elements of a budget, the budget cycle, and the steps for creating a budget

- suggests ways of avoiding common pitfalls and problems of managing budgets

- contains effective strategies for dealing with loss of resources

- includes end-of-chapter reflection questions and an expanded glossary of terms

Written in plain language this volume provides practical approaches to many complex problems in fiscal management.

This new edition of the book contains new information in every chapter reflecting both the most recent developments in higher education and feedback from readers of the earlier edition. The information on the current higher education financial environment has been updated, and the case studies have been revised. Readers will be introduced to Bowen's theory of resources and expenses as an important way to understand budgetary decision making in colleges and universities. Special attention is paid to the use of restricted funds, the budget implications of faculty appointments and the challenges caused by personnel policies for staff. In addition, greater attention is given to development and implementation of repair and replacement programs in auxiliary enterprises. The challenges that arise when budget problems are postponed are also discussed. The volume contains a number of suggestions for practitioners with new budgeting and fiscal responsibilities.

From the Back Cover

Find Practical Approaches to Many Complex Problems in Fiscal Management

Budgets and Financial Management in Higher Education helps new administrators understand and become more proficient in their financial management role within an institution. Grounded in the latest knowledge base and filled with examples from across all types of institutions, it makes for an ideal text for courses in graduate programs in higher education leadership and administration. Specifically, the book:

• Provides an understanding of the basics of budgeting and fiscal management in higher education
• Defines the elements of a budget, the budget cycle, and the steps for creating a budget
• Suggests ways of avoiding common pitfalls and problems of managing budgets
• Contains effective strategies for dealing with the loss of resources
• Includes end-of-chapter reflection questions and an expanded glossary of terms

Highly accessible for students and practitioners alike, this valuable resource offers solid guidance readers can immediately put to use in their work.

About the Author

Margaret J. Barr is professor emerita in the School of Education and Social Policy at Northwestern University. In her career, she has supervised operating budgets for both general and auxiliary enterprises.

George S. McClellan is associate professor of higher education at the University of Mississippi. He is the author or editor of many articles, book chapters, and monographs on student affairs topics.