SCUF Budget Information

Information on the University of Maryland's Budgetary and Fiscal Condition

The Special Committee on University Finance (SCUF) is charged in part with educating the Senate and the campus community on the University’s budget and the budget process. It serves as a resource to the campus community to help improve understanding of the budget, and seeks to demystify the complexities of resource tensions.

The University has developed many resources to help explain the University's budget and key concepts to the broader community. SCUF encourages Senators and members of the campus community to review the following:

The University has also developed specific information related to the financial impact of COVID-19 on the University's budget, including: 

  • A recording of the Virtual Conversation on UMD's Budget, held on September 10, 2020. 

  • The presentation from the Virtual Conversation on UMD's Budget, held on September 10, 2020.

SCUF anticipates that there are many questions about the impact of COVID-19 on the University's budget and its future. It has developed information associated with many of these questions, below. SCUF recognizes that the factors affecting the University and its finances also significantly impact individual community members. These factors combined with additional family and household considerations have created unprecedented challenges for many individuals. Although SCUF’s charge is related to the financial operations of the University, the committee is mindful of the relationship between the financial well-being of the University and the well-being of its community members. The Campus Resources and FAQs and the University Human Resources Working Through COVID-19 webpages include a wealth of COVID well-being, safety, and work alternative information to assist community members.

COVID-19 Broader Impacts

  1. At a high level, how has COVID-19 negatively impacted the University's finances?
  2. What has changed related to the financial situation since September 2020?
  3. How has the administration addressed the financial shortfall resulting from COVID-19?

University Budget

  1. What resources make up the University's budget?
  2. What expenses are covered under the University's budget?
  3. State Appropriations - How has the level of support changed since COVID-19?
  4. Tuition - How has student enrollment and associated tuition revenue been affected by COVID-19?
  5. What is the fund balance?
  6. How does the capital projects budget differ from the state appropriation?
  7. How are the operating financial models of auxiliary enterprises (athletics, student services, transportation) different from those of academic units?

University Operations

  1. What has the University done to limit the financial impact of the COVID-19 crisis on personnel?
  2. Has the University implemented temporary salary reductions and/or furloughs?
  3. What are some examples of costs or expenses that cannot be mitigated or otherwise reduced or suspended?
  4. What are some examples of one-time and ongoing COVID-19 expenses? How are these expenses being covered?

SCUF intends for this information to be helpful in bringing awareness to the University's finances among the campus community. If you have any questions, feedback, or thoughts about future additions to this information, please submit your feedback here.