ACQNET: Re: Funding formulas for departmental budgets

Date:  Mon 10 June 2002 7:53 AM
From: Peter Picerno (Nova Southeastern Univ.)
<ppicerno_at_nova.edu>
Subject: Re: Funding formulas for departmental budgets

There are many many funding formulas which cover the entire range
 of things to consider in constructing such a formula. I did a study a
couple of years ago, and there is an ARL (?) publication which
illustrated the wide diversity of allocation formulas (I seem to remember
that it was a Spec Kit). The most cogent way, it seems to me, to go
about it would be to decide on what variables you perceive to be of
objective value in measuring (for example, is the number of departmental
majors a viable measure, or is the number of faculty, or the number of
departmental production-class-hours, or what combination of factors
such as those I've mentioned). Once you've decided on what is an
important measure, then you have to wrestle with ways of acquiring reliable
data to populate your formula, and, of course, at the end of it all, you'll
need to be flexible enough to be able to make adjustments in the outcome
of the formula in order to justify local considerations.

In short, there is no magic recipe, and certainly there is none which is
foolproof:  I think that it's wise to think of the formula as an objective
measure which forms the basis but not the entire 'law' for library spending.

Peter V. Picerno

Dr. Peter V. Picerno
Acquisitions and Serials Librarian
Nova Southeastern University Libraries
3301 College Avenue
Fort Lauderdale   FL   33314
(954) 262-4662
FAX (954) 262-3946

--------------------------------Original Message--------------------------
From: owner-acqnet-l_at_listproc.appstate.edu
[mailto:owner-acqnet-l_at_listproc.appstate.edu]On Behalf Of Deborah Duke
Sent: Saturday, June 08, 2002 11:46 AM
To: ACQNET
Subject: ACQNET: Funding formulas for departmental budgets


Date: Wed 05 June 2002 1:58 PM
From: Sandy Olson (Univ. of Central Arkansas)
<SandyO_at_mail.uca.edu>
Subject: Funding formulas for departmental budgets

My Associate Dean is interested in what types of funding formulas
other institutions use to figure budget allotments for academic
departments.  Would anyone have any formulas they would be willing to
share?

Do you use criteria like number of students, doctoral programs, etc
in your funding decisions?

Any and all info would be appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

Sandy

Sandra Olson
Acquisitions Supervisor
Torreyson Library
University of Central Arkansas
sandyo_at_mail.uca.edu
501-450-5210