Berkeley College: Budget Challenges Faced by Unit and Suggested Solutions

Description of Unit/Department, My role, and the Current Fiscal Climate with Supporting Evidence from the Literature 

Berkeley College is a private college mainly found in New York and New Jersey. It offers undergraduate and graduate programs to its students in different areas and professionals. The college has several campuses three in New York while six in New Jersey as well as has effective and efficient online programs that supplements and supports the institution's mission and objectives in the academic world. The different programs offered by Berkeley College in the School of Business, school of professional studies, school of health studies, school of liberal arts as well as graduate school ensures that the educational goals of the college are met. The different schools and programs offered by the college are managed by the Central College Administration (CCA) and supported by Berkeley Educational Services (BES). The college as part of the community seeks a grant and financial support from The Drug-Free Communities (DFC) Support Program that works with communities to support initiatives that strengthen the infrastructure among local partners. And, create and sustain a reduction in local youth substance use. Berkeley College has the mandate to curb the rising cases of alcoholism and substance abuse in the institution. Also, help its students try to achieve their primary goals and objectives concerning the academic life and improve the society as a whole in addressing the challenge that is reported in all the parts of the society. The new Freedom Program is a universal health initiative that focuses on reducing issues of alcoholism and substance abuse that Berkeley College shares the same objective. Berkeley College through its College health wellness center is the Unit or department developing the budget for. My role is the director of nursing education in the wellness center in the institution. I am responsible for initiating programs and projects that support the vision and objectives of Berkeley College wellness efforts as well as that of the entire community (Nation) at large as the institution is part of society as the whole. 

The current fiscal climate has seen increased competition for funds where many interested stakeholders have continued to show and express interests in the limited funds available. From such organizations such as DFC and related partners that include Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) among others. The competition has resulted in additional requirements and hurdles that the organizations that initiate and offer such grants have put for applicants. They include the provision of a budget that would show how the intended grants would be utilized as well as elaborate explanation and analysis of the impacts that the budgeted programs shall have in the short and long-term for them to offer and support the proposals. The government and private agencies also have strict regulations and guidelines that they provide in the utilization of the funds that are designed to prevent any loss or misappropriation of funds through corrupt acts among others (Czerwinski, 2011). Other requirements and regulations have also required the organizations or institutions seeking grants to carter for a certain percentage of the total costs budgeted for as a pre-requisite for accessing the grants and funds. Berkeley College wellness budget, thus, has to research and analyze the preconditions and requirements from the DFC-funded coalitions as well as the general rules and regulations that guide wellness and health grants and applications. It would place it a better chance of successfully sailing through the application and acquisition process of the grant. 

Description of Budget Type, Model, and Decision Making Process with Rationale 

The budget proposed by Berkeley College wellness program has considered different approaches and strategies that it intends to use in formulation and design of the budget. It notes aspects that can be accessed and acquired internally such as in the salary and professionals that the institution health and wellness programs have such as nurses, counselors, and clinical sociologists among others. The budget has considered the hourly rates that such professionalism in the institution gets including the bonuses and, thus, such factors have played and determined the figures arrived at in the budget preparation processes. It has also considered services that would be purchased in the process of realizing the desired and set goals and targets in the alcohol and substance abuse reduction initiatives in the college community. For example, it has considered the contracted personnel to provide different services and expertise in the program, travel postage, consultancy, and printing services among others. Additionally, it has also included the non-capital that touches on the supplies, materials and media elements that would enhance communication of the messages to the different groups and targets set in the program. Planning costs also are catered for in the budget where it provides forums that more excellent details, logistics and plans and programs of the budget are implemented and formulated to enhance the chance of successful and effective utilization of the funds and execution of the different targets and goals in the project. It includes training, salary, and wages for staff members and consultants, payment of suppliers of various goods and services including media that shall enhance communication goals that include advertising and print services among others. The model used incorporates all-funds and planning where individual costs and elements in the budget have been computed and compared to the total budget of the programs. It notes the percentage share and portion that they cost that gives a quick direction and indication of the aspects that utilize the highest that includes salaries as well as the lowest that is the portion of advertising and telephone bills. The responsibility that each part of the project would play has also determined the allocation and portion offered in the budget. 

The decision-making process of the budget used a hybrid approach that has incorporated elements of centralized as well as decentralized approaches. It is because deferent stakeholders would play a different role in the implementation of the anticipated programs of Berkeley College wellness project. Some measures would be implemented by the leaders of the project (director of nursing education) that shall also monitor the development of other aspects and processes in the budget. On the same note, the different stakeholders involved in the implementation of the various elements of the budget also are empowered to work independently and meet given or set targets. For example, the consultants that would contribute to successful implementation of the programs to achieve goals and objectives that reduce the alcoholism and substance abuse by over 40 percent as set in the plans. The hybrid option for budgeting enables capturing of information and data that one approach cannot capture alone and, thus, the hybrid system results in a more detailed budget result and process. It includes and incorporates decisions from key stakeholders that increase the chance of successfully implementing the project by Berkeley College wellness team. 

Budget Expression Naturally or Functionally 

Presentation of a visual budget expression, either naturally or functionally, including Revenue Sources, Expenses, and Budgeted Amount with Grand Total 

NB: The revenue source for the budget is the grant offered by the DFC-funded coalitions 

Budget Proposal Schedule (including the timing of hiring cycles) 

The budget for the Berkeley College wellness project is to be implemented within one year where it has planned to execute and enforce different aspects on a quarterly basis. The first quarter that would run from May to August of 2018 will focus on the aspects of training of the college counselors and nurses to enhance their specialty in handling cases of substance abuse. The training aspects are essential and have been prioritized as it would provide the framework that aspects of the program and project would be built to help and empower the trained personnel to implement other plans and aspects in the project as budgeted and catered for in the programs. The second quarter that would commence on September to November that year (2018) would involve identification of students that would benefit and enroll in the different programs offered under the project. The initial training offered in the first phase or quarter shall empower all those trained on the aspects and elements considered when conducting such selection of students. It is due to the vigorous and intense training methods and alternatives availed in the project by experts and professionals in the interesting subjects and topics about the project. The third and final quarter would entail the actual implementation of the different programs in the project. It would include advertisements and communication of different information that empowers all the involved stakeholders, rehabilitation projects and processes, acquisition of all the operating, capital and auxiliary elements that would support the project in different levels and stages. The combined quarters (third and fourth) would take six months that would be half of the entire project duration that would play an essential part in the determination of the use of the Berkeley College wellness team project. 

Budget Challenges Faced by Unit/Department 

The first is getting everybody on board. The budget requires that most of the critical stakeholders involved in the project present their views and ideas about the budget process. It makes them owe the process and take accountability and responsibility in the outcomes of the projects. Failure to get everybody on board might make those involved in the implementation of the project reluctant and uninterested in the project. It results in reduced output and productivity that can enhance the successful implementation of the project. The Second challenge is of facing expensive emergencies. It might impact on the initial budget and programs negatively that might compel formulation of a supplementary budget. And, in the case where there is fixed budget such as in the case of Berkeley College wellness team project, it might prove challenging that might increase the chance of a failed project and program. 

Suggested Solutions to the Problems and Pitfalls 

The solution to the first challenge of getting everybody on board would involve initiatives by the leaders in the budget proposals and formulation to take drastic actions and measures. It includes scheduling budget timings that suit different departments and shifts in the workplace to participate in the activity. It also would entail formulation of policies that would make it mandatory for employees and concerned stakeholders to actively participate and contribute their ideas and views in the budget-making processes. During budget times and formulation, all activities in an organization or department can be halted and only essential services offered. The solution would make it easier to include everybody participation as it provides the element of flexibility and different time that different stakeholder can give their views and ideas about the budget process and proposals (Sider, 2012). Mandatory participation also would compel the employees and involved stakeholders to avail themselves and actively contribute in the process. The second solution is the inclusion of emergencies and unprecedented elements in the budget that might help and caution the plans and programs initially incorporated in the plans. Setting the emergency funds in the budget, thus, would provide caution and shield the budget process and programs from unprecedented events and outcomes. It might create emergencies that might hinder proper implementation and of the budgeted programs and projects. 

References 

Czerwinski, S. J. (2011). Grants.gov: Additional Action Needed to Address Persistent Governance and Funding Challenges. Collingdale: DIANE Publishing 

Sider, R.J. (2012). Fixing the Moral Deficit: A Balanced Way to Balance the Budget . Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press