Before VCM, the Provost's Office allocated all general funds to departments - all parts of the University got approximately the same amount of money with a few adjustments. Former Provost Gilbert Whittaker implemented VCM to allocate dollars in accordance with academic unit size. Under VCM, larger enrollments and more programs lead to bigger allocations from the University's coffers and as a result, more freedom to create diverse academic initiatives.
As a result of the change, University departments found themselves in a race for funds. Deans and department heads must compete to maintain student enrollment and programs in order to support the bottom line. Because of VCM's lack of financial support for interdepartmental projects, cooperation and communication between academic units suffers greatly - as a result, faculty members creating programs with other departments do not have any financial backing from the University's central administration.
By forcing departments into competition for money, VCM takes business world budgeting ideas and places them in the University's academic setting. But academia is not a business, nor should it be run like one. The University must enhance the academic environment - VCM forces departments to shift their focus to financial concerns.
Cantor's plan for budgetary change includes encouraging collaboration between departments with financial support. Furthermore, the new budgetary system will pay for many basic things that all departments need - such as janitorial services - freeing up additional funds for academic purposes. In addition, Cantor will have a pool of funds to support programs that benefit the University but have no outside financial help. Cantor's planned changes will prevent budgetary processes from harming smaller departments and increase interdepartmental cooperation.
Cantor deserves credit for her insight and willingness to change this important policy. Many members of the faculty have expressed concerns about VCM since its implementation. Furthermore, the new budget will reduce the competition between academic units and foster a greater sharing of academic resources. The new budgetary plan is also more in line with Bollinger and Cantor's administrative philosophy: fostering better communication and sharing academic resources on campus.
Administrative change takes getting used to, but the provost's budgetary plan will benefit the entire University community. It cuts competition while benefiting students. Bollinger and Cantor should follow through on her discussion with SACUA and change the University's budgeting policies.