Budget Office moving to Division of Business and Financial Affairs

Following last year’s review and movement of strategic planning to the Provost’s Office, Western Washington University’s Office of University Planning and Budgeting will be renamed the Budget Office and its staff will be part of the Division of Business and Financial Affairs, under a reorganization recently approved by President Bruce Shepard.

The Budget Office will continue to provide information on revenues, budgets and analysis in support of Western’s operating budget requests to the Legislature and other university needs. Until now, that office has reported directly to the president, with BFA handling many other financial responsibilities for the campus, including formation of a capital budget. This reorganization streamlines operating and capital budget development together. This change comes after review by Western’s vice presidents.

Generally, the planning and budget functions at many universities report to either the university president or the chief business officer. In cases where it reports to a university president, that typically includes the strategic planning function. However, at Western, the strategic budget planning function has been assigned to the Provost’s Office.

“This move of the Budget Office to Business and Financial Affairs will provide improved support and enhanced effectiveness for Western’s budget development processes,” Shepard said.

The Budget Office will be moving into the Division of Business and Financial Affairs office suite on the fourth floor of Old Main.

"We welcome the Budget Office into our division," said Richard Van Den Hul, vice president for the Division of Business and Financial Affairs. "This will allow for closer collaboration and partnership with Accounting and Human Resources and the other offices of the division as we seek to serve the university."