6.1.b

6.1.b Unit Budget

Summarize budget allocation and its sufficiency in supporting both campus and clinical work that
are essential to the preparation of educators and other school professionals.

The EPP is supported by budgets managed across three different offices: the Education Department, the
Kinesiology and Physical Education Department, and the Dean' Office. The day-to-day operations for
EPP programs are funded at their respective departmental levels. The Dean's office supports the Office
of Educational and Clinical Experiences by authorizing stipends for cooperating teachers, clinical
instructors and supervisors.

Each year, university units are required to build their respective budgets by submitting proposals to the
Provost. It is expected that the proposals support the unit's goals and those of the University. Overall, the
budgets, though lean, have been sufficient to meet the basic needs of the EPP and its respective
programs. Faculty's professional development is allocated according to AAUP (union contract), and
additional funds in this area may be available at the Departmental Level, from the University's office of
Professional Development, or from summer curriculum grants, to name a few. See budget.
A significant change in clinical budget instituted in the recent years has been to separate the clinical
expenditure from the department's operational budget. Thus, stipends to university supervisors and
cooperating teachers, mileage reimbursements, resources for annual clinical meetings are estimated and
budgeted separately with a dedicated line item that is managed by the Dean's Office. The Coordinator of
Educational and Clinical Experiences reports directly to the Dean and this has helped to ensure the
smooth and efficient operation of all clinical experiences.

While the University and its units have experienced budget cuts annually for the past 6+ years, a
balanced budget has been maintained. This is often achieved by not filling administrative, faculty, and
staff lines. However, matters of accreditation along with student health and security have been
prioritized at the EPP and University levels. Institutional budgeting and financial solvency were one of
the stronger aspects of the recent NEASC review.

Over the past two years, the EPP has been focusing on increasing enrollment as a means of offsetting
continuous state level budgetary cutbacks. Innovations have occurred within the EPP with faculty
attending Graduate Fairs, recruiting undergraduate candidates through direct faculty communications
following their admission to the university, and by marketing graduate programs regionally. The results
have been successful. The Graduate Division saw a 26.5% increase in enrollment resulting in fewer
graduate course cancellation due to under enrollment. The EPP also saw a promising increase in the
number of annual applications to the certification programs, from 111 applications in 2014-2015 to 140
in 2015-2016.

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