An Evaluation of the System of Central Financial Control of Research in State Governments Bulletin of the National Research Council (1924) / Chapter Skim
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VI. Control of Research in the University of Chicago
VI. Control of Research in the University of Chicago
Pages 104-113
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From page 104... ...
The more important research departments are, in the natural sciences, Mathematics, Astronomy, Physics, Chemistry, Botany, Zoology, Anatomy, Physiology, Physiological Chemistry, Pathology, Hygiene and Bacteriology, Geology and Geography; in the social sciences, Psychology, History, Sociology, Political Economy and Political Science; in the language group, Comparative Philology, Romance Languages, and German. Attention will be given in this report primarily to the natural sciences and to certain special work of the social sciences.
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From page 105... ...
As will appear in the description of the functions of this committee, it occupies a position analogous to that held in the state governments by the director of finance. The following diagram, published by the University in 1922, gives a visual presentation of the general plan of organization.
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From page 106... ...
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From page 107... ...
The general operation of the budget plan is given in the following excerpt from the Report of the Auditor for 1916-1917: "The receipts and expenditures of the University for operation are cared for by the budget system of accounting. About eight months before the beginning of the University's fiscal year a careful estimate of the receipts is made, and the total amount thus shown, less a sum reserved for contingencies, is appropriated among the several departments, with the endeavor to supply their needs to as great a degree as possible.
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From page 108... ...
These expenditures are, however, subject to the supervision of the Auditor. There is a university contingent fund controlled by the Board of Trustees; but there are no departmental contingency funds.
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From page 109... ...
But the underlying theory of control seems to be much the same. CENTRALIZED PURCHASING Since 1913 the University has had a central purchasing system which handles practically all University purchases except food.43 When any department needs materials, the Head of the Department sends to the Purchasing Agent a requisition in triplicate.
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From page 110... ...
In this way the departmental appropriation is mortgaged for the estimated amount of the purchase, or other expenditure, before the expense is incurred. The original copy of the requisition is retained by the Auditor, the duplicate goes to the Purchasing Agent as his authority to incur the expense, and the triplicate copy goes to the Department Head.
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From page 111... ...
The University makes a direct contribution to the publication of the writings of its members by granting subsidies to a number of professional journals which otherwise would be unable to continue publication. Among these journals are the Astrophysical Journal; Botanical Gazette; Journal of Geology; Classical Philology; Modern Philology; American Journal of Semitic Languages and Literature; American Journal of Sociology; American Journal of Political Economy; and the Journal of Religion.
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From page 112... ...
In the University is to be found, in addition to the audit of expenditures, central budget-making, authoritative review of proposals for expenditure, centralized purchasing, centralized printing, a centrally controlled contingent fund, and central control of expenditures for travel. In order to avoid deficits and ensure the wisest possible use of its funds the University has developed an administrative control which is potentially as complete as that met with in state government.
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From page 113... ...
These conditions allow a system of financial control to operate with much greater success in the one case than in the other, and the writer does not wish to be understood as asserting that because the University plan operates successfully within the confines of the Quadrangles, therefore it is justified in the wider range of activities of a state government. It remains, however, of interest and of some significance that the two systems resemble each other to such an extent as the preceding pages reveal.
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