Guidance on thinking about the University budget

Across Hopkins' different schools, unit chairs and directors have been asked to work on cutting discretionary budgets to varying degrees, depending on the school and unit and how they are affected by budget shortfalls.  

This is an unfortunate necessity. We support the university’s policy to allow units to make decisions and offer plans. This bottom-up management will ensure an effective response to the challenges we face.

We believe that “Budgets are moral documents.” Regardless of the moral significance of a given budget line, the choices we make reveal what we truly care about. As such, the AAUP chapter offers these guidelines as tools to help faculty, staff and unit leaders navigate these difficult times.

To be sure, every unit, division, and school is different. We believe these guidelines can serve as a starting point for collective consideration on how to move forward, address current challenges, and build our community’s resilience. 

5 Ps

1. Principles: Budget decisions must support our core academic values of free inquiry and academic freedom, not political convenience or the suppression of "banned" words or ideas.

2. Partnership: Except for confidential items, make budget plans in partnership with unit faculty and staff to ensure everyone pulls in the same direction.

3. Priorities: Discuss and agree on the unit’s priorities – what is mission-critical? Categorize expenses from A (mission critical) to D (optional). Develop contingency plans based on these agreed-upon priorities.

4. Protections: Plan as much protection as possible for students, staff and more junior and vulnerable faculty. We thrive together by protecting the most vulnerable in our midst.

5. Forward Planning: Prepare for future growth by investing in junior researchers, staff, students, faculty research and teaching, and a balanced, collaborative unit. When the storm passes, we will be stronger for it.