A

Annual Operating Expense Reserves:
Annual set aside to the Central University Reserves, which is established to fund primarily unforeseen expenses as well as miscellaneous unbudgeted university expenses.

Application Fees:
A Category 1 fee that is charged when a student applies to the CSU. This fee is used to fund the cost of the application review and acceptance process.

 Augmentation:
An increase in an appropriation. 

 Augmented Health Services:
Augmented health services are elective or specialized services offered by the Student Health Center.  Funding is generated through charges for specific tests  / services / prescriptions above what is covered by the mandatory health services fee.

Auxiliaries:
Auxiliary organizations are nonprofit organizations that are authorized to provide supplemental services and support to the campuses of the California State University.​  Although these are separate legal entities, the activities of these organizations are impacted by campus decisions on major areas such as enrollment, instruction modalities, and general campus operations. The auxiliaries at CSUN include:  Associated Students, Foundation, North Campus, The University Corporation, and University Student Union.

B

Board of Trustees (BOT):
The Board of Trustees is responsible for the oversight of the California State University. The Board adopts rules, regulations, and policies governing the California State University. The Board has authority over curricular development, use of property, development of facilities, and fiscal and human resources management.  Currently, California law requires 25 trustees for the California State University, all of whom are full voting members. There are five ex officio members: the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Speaker of the Assembly, State Superintendent of Public Instruction, and the Chancellor. Sixteen trustees are appointed by the governor, confirmed by the State Senate, and serve eight-year terms.

Budget Oversight Policy (ICSUAM 02002.00):
It is the policy of the CSU that the campus chief financial officer ensure budget reviews occur during the fiscal year that compare budgeted and actual revenues and expenditures and take action to resolve any discrepancies. Reviews to compare budgeted and actual revenues and expenditures must be documented, occur at least twice per year, and include any actions taken to resolve discrepancies. The documentation should be retained in accordance with campus written retention polices. Documentation should include details on the research to be conducted, a resolution plan, expected and final completion dates. To see the full policy, visit: https://calstate.policystat.com/policy/8559139/latest/

Budget Year:
A 12-month budgeting and accounting period. In California, the fiscal year runs from July 1 through the following June 30.  See also Fiscal Year

C

Campus Quality Fee (CQF):
Established at CSUN in 2008, the Campus Quality Fee (CQF) serves to enhance the learning experiences of students on campus by providing for:  the elimination of course specific fees; funding to maintain currency in technology; increased availability of student support services, and stabilized and appropriate funding for intercollegiate athletics. The CQF fee is a mandatory Category II fee. Refer to Executive Order 1035.

Capital Outlay:
Funding to plan and construct new buildings, expand or modify existing buildings, and/or purchase equipment related to such construction.

Carry Forward:
Fund balances that are unspent at year-end and rolled over to the new fiscal year.  It is sound business practice to have carry forward funds each year to better manage unforeseen budget challenges.  (see Reserves).  Carry forward balances include amounts that are encumbered at year-end.

Centralized Benefits Pool:
Funds held by Central University that are designated to pay for all benefits expenses incurred in the General Operating Fund.  Funding for the Benefits Pool increases whenever new funds are allocated for salaries.  The increase is calculated using the average benefits rate at the time of funding.

Centralized Budgeting:
Centralized budgeting is a model where the majority, if not all, of the budgetary decision come from a single area or small group of administrators.

Common Management Systems (CMS) Pool:
A permanent budget commitment created in 2007/08 to support ongoing contractual costs associated with PeopleSoft.

D

Debt Service (DSCR):
The amount of money required to pay interest and principal on existing bonds.  A debt service coverage ratio (DSCR) is a standard financial analysis calculation used to evaluate the ability of the organization to make bond and interest payments on an on-going basis.

Decentralized Budgeting:
Decentralized budgeting is a model that empowers personnel with fiduciary responsibilities in various levels of the campus organization about how to best allocate resources to meet their department, unit, or college goals.  Empowering budget owners with site-level autonomy motivates and engages staff to make informed, data-driven decisions to best support the overall goals of the campus.  This is the budgeting model used at CSUN.

Deferred Maintenance/Capital Projects:
Campus allocation to manage annual deferred maintenance projects that are vetted and prioritized. Original source of funding is state appropriation for new state facilities put into services in prior years.

Designated Balances and Reserves Policy (ICSUAM 02001.00):
Designated balances and reserves are an integral part of how CSU manages operating activities and are held and utilized for designated purposes, as articulated by state law and CSU policy. Designated balances and reserves accumulate annually from revenues in excess of annual expenses. Designated balances and reserves do not include monies that are held on behalf of another entity, such as the federal government for student financial aid, or held pursuant to a bond indenture or other similar requirement.  To see the full policy, visit:  https://calstate.policystat.com/policy/8559140/latest/

Doctorate Tuition Fees:
Each of the doctorate programs, Audiology, Education, and Physical Therapy, has a specific tuition fee.

E

Enacted Budget or Budget Act:
The budget passed by the Legislature and signed by the Governor.

Encumbrance:
An obligation to expend funds, such as a contract. In some cases, encumbered budget funds may be expended in a following fiscal year.

Enterprise Programs:
These are campus programs that provide services and support to the campus community with a goal to be self-supporting. These programs derive their revenues from fees collected (e.g., Housing rent and Parking fees). These revenues are used to fund operating expenses, maintenance and repair, improvements to facilities, and interest and principal payments on outstanding bonds.  These programs used bonds to construct their facilities. After payment of all authorized charges, the balances in any of these funds remain available for future program expenses.  Similar to Auxiliary organizations (see above), the activities of these enterprise programs are impacted by campus decisions on major areas such as enrollment, instruction modality, and general campus operations. Enterprise funds at CSUN are Health Facilities, Housing, Professional and Continuing Education (PaCE), and Parking.

Excess Enrollment:
Enrollment, expressed in "Full Time Equivalent Students" or FTES, that exceeds the budgeted enrollment in the State Appropriation known as the CO target.

Expenditure:
An expenditure is a payment or disbursement for goods and services.  An outflow of money for the purpose of making a payment for items such as office supplies or travel reimbursements.

F

Financial Aid for Doctorate Programs:
The Chancellor's Office( CO) requires each Doctorate Program to set aside a part of its tuition revenue for financial aid.  The amount of financial aid is calculated by applying a percentage that is assigned by the CO to the total tuition revenue.  CSUN's Doctorate Programs' percentages are either 10% or 33% depending on the program.

Fiscal Year:
A 12-month budgeting and accounting period. In California, the fiscal year runs from July 1 through the following June 30.  See also Budget Year.

Fund Balance:
For accounting purposes, the excess of a fund's assets over its liabilities.  For budgeting purposes, the excess of a fund's resources over its expenditures.

G

General Fund / State General Fund:
For legal basis accounting and budgeting purposes, the predominant fund for financing state government programs; used to account for revenues which are not specifically designated by any other fund. The primary sources of revenue for the General Fund are personal income, tax, sales and use tax, and corporation taxes.  The major uses of the General Fund are education (K-12 and higher education), health and human services programs, and correctional programs.  

General Operating Fund / CSU General Operating Fund:
For accounting and budgeting purposes, the CSU General Operating Fund refers to the family of funds used to account for revenues and expenses related to campus operations.  The CSU's operating budget has two main funding sources:  The state General Fund and student tuition and fees.

General Salary Increases (GSI's):
A general salary increase is typically administered as an across-the-board salary increase. Within the CSU, all employees within a bargaining unit receive a fixed percentage as a pay increase that has been negotiated by their union.  The CSU provides funding for GSI's as part of the  campuses state appropriation when funding is available.

Graduate Initiative 2025 (GI 2025):
In 2015, the California State University (CSU) launched Graduation Initiative 2025, a plan to increase graduation rates, eliminate equity gaps in degree completion and meet California’s workforce needs with a set timeline and goals.  The CSU has provided permanent and one-time allocations to fund this initiative.

Governor's Budget Proposal:
 Spending plan submitted by the Governor in January. See "Governor's Proposed Budget" on the Department of Finance's website: http://www.ebudget.ca.gov/ 

Graduate Equity Fellowships:
The program provides a limited number of fellowships from $2,000-4,000 to economically disadvantaged students especially from groups that are underrepresented among graduate degree recipients in their areas of study.  The fellowships are intended to minimize students’ debt, allowing them to complete their program more quickly. The award is paid out in two semesters.

H

I

Incremental Budgeting:
Incremental budgeting is a budgeting method whereby the budget is prepared by taking the current period's budget and adjusted incrementally for the next budget period.

J

K

L

Lottery Fund: 
The California State Lottery Act (Act) of 1984 directed the lottery administration to provide supplemental funding for the state’s public schools and colleges. The Act states that all lottery funds allocated to public education must be considered supplemental to other funds allotted to public education, and that no educational program shall receive less financial support from the state because it receives lottery proceeds. Most of the lottery funds allocated to public education are given to K-12 and community college districts.  The CSU's allotment is based on units of full-time equivalent student enrollment and given directly to the Board of Trustees (BOT).

M

Mandatory Costs:
Mandatory costs are expenditures the university must pay regardless of the level of funding allocated by the state, and they often increase despite growing, flat, or declining state support.  Examples of mandatory costs include health benefits and maintenance of new facilities. 

May Revision:
Sometimes referred to as the “May Revise” and occurring in mid-May, the updated estimate of revenues and expenditures that replaces the estimates contained in the Governor’s budget submitted in January. 

N

New Space:
Allocation via coded memo for plant maintenance costs associated with new state facilities.

Non-Resident Tuition Fee Revenue:
Category I per-unit fee that non-resident students pay in addition to the basic tuition fee.

O

One-time costs:
 One-time costs are one-of-a-kind expenses that occur at irregular intervals and thus are sometimes difficult to plan for or anticipate from a budgeting perspective.

Operating Expense & Equipment (OE&E):
An operating expense is an expense the university incurs through its normal campus operations. It includes general expenses, printing, communications, travel, professional development, equipment and accessories for equipment, to name a few.

Other Student Fee Revenue:
Revenue from various Category IV fees, which are paid to receive materials, services, or facilities. Examples include Transcript Fee, Late Registration Fee, and Orientation Fee.

P

Q

Questica:
In 2017/18, CSUN collaborated with two other CSU campuses and implemented Questica, a web-based budgeting and planning software that serves both as a budgeting/reporting tool and as an effective tool in position management. This allows personnel with fiscal responsibility in departments, colleges, or divisions to develop their budgets, submit for review and approvals via automated workflow, monitor budgets vs actuals, conduct forecasting and projections, and perform adjustments to the budgets in one system. By aggregating financial information in a database, we drastically reduce the inefficiencies that result from Excel-based multiple versions of the same budget. Everyone who is authorized to access the system can see the most up-to-date numbers at a glance, and the platform’s functionality allows users to view previous versions of the budget in one centralized place. 

Questica Budget Cycle:
A timeline that begins in mid-March and goes through early July whereby the departments, Colleges, and Divisions are updating both position and budget data to prepare the next year's budget (PNBY), a process known as PNBY in Questica.

Questica Change Request:
A transaction processed by the budget office and budget managers within the Questica system to make changes to budget line items and to process budget allocations/transfers. This type of request has built in business rules that align with campus policies and keep the budget in balance.  

R

Reserves:
Fund balances that are set aside in a fund to provide for an unanticipated decline in revenue or increase in expenditures; an amount set aside to provide for expenditures from the unencumbered balance for continuing appropriations, economic uncertainties, future apportionments, pending salary or price increase appropriations, and appropriations for capital outlay projects.  (refer to Designated Balances and Reserves Policy)

Revenue Transaction Processing Charges:
Allocation to cover all of the bank charges for student payments.

Risk Pool Insurance Costs:
Per Executive Order (EO) 638, and later EO 1087, the CSU established a self-insurance program under the California State University Risk Management Authority (CSURMA). Risk Pool Insurance Costs line item budgets for premiums and deductibles for workers' compensation, employer liability, general liability, property damage, and other pooled insurance activities. 

S

SB 84 Loan:
Senate Bill 84 of 2017 authorized the state to borrow $6 billion from a state cash account and make a one-time supplemental pension payment to CalPERS in 2017-18 to reduce the unfunded pension liability.
SB 84 requires all state agencies that participate in CalPERS to repay a proportionate share of the loan through 2024/25.

Space Rental:
Funding for campus-wide space rental expenses such as Office of Student Involvement & Development, International Exchange Student Center, Police Services Building (rent and insurance), Bookstore Building addition, and Reseda Building (rent, utilities, and custodial).

State Appropriation:
Money set apart in the budget, or by a piece of legislation, typically for a specific use.  For the California State University (CSU) system, this is an allocation provided annually that is approved by the Governor and distributed by the Chancellor's Office (CO) via a coded memo to the 23 CSU campuses and the CO.

State Budget Cycle:
Refers to the steps or phases that the State needs to go through to come up with a budget.  The budget is the estimation of the expenses that the State expects to incur in the future. Significant events in the cycle include the following: (1) Preparation of the Governor's proposed budget; (2) Governor's Budget - The publication the Governor presents to the legislature by January 10 each year.  It contains recommendations and estimates for the State's financial operations for the budget year; (3) May Revision - May Revision adjustments for changes in General Fund revenues, expenditure adjustments to reflect updated revenue, and funding for Proposition 98, caseload, and population; and (4) June 30 of each year is when the Governor should approve the next fiscal year budget. State budget cycle can be found at the following link:  https://lwvc.org/sites/default/files/lwvc/CAStateBudgetCycleChart.pdf

State Trust Fund:
An account to deposit, transfer and/or expend specifically defined monies. The State Trust Fund is a non-appropriated fund, which receives monies from sources other than the State Controller’s Office. The monies are maintained at the University and if any excess funds exist, the University invests them. The State Trust Fund is regulated by ICSUAM and Campus policy.

State University Grant (SUG):
To further the CSU’s mission to provide an affordable, high-quality education to all students, the CSU created the State University Grant (SUG) program to assist students who have the greatest financial need. Each year, the CSU awards need-based grants to eligible California residents and DREAM Act applicants who enroll at CSU campuses in undergraduate, postbaccalaureate, teaching credential and graduate programs. As tuition and enrollment increased and state investment in the CSU fluctuated, the CSU expanded the SUG program to help keep student costs to a minimum. Currently, more than 10 percent of the CSU’s total operating budget is dedicated to financial aid for students with the greatest need.  The SUG program remains one of the largest commitments in the CSU operating budget.  The  Chancellor's Office sets aside 33.33% of tuition fee revenue for the SUG program.

State-Funded Retirement Adjustment:
This is an adjustment to campus retirement funding that is calculated using the actual retirement percentage for any given year against the campuses employee FTES database as of 2013/14 fiscal year.  The retirement increase amount above the frozen payroll level is an unfunded cost for the CSU, and it continues to increase each year when pensionable payment or retirement contribution rates increase.

Student Fees:
All students enrolled at a CSU campus pay a systemwide tuition fee, in addition to campus mandatory fees. The CSU makes every effort to keep student costs to a minimum. 

Systemwide Tuition Fee:
Tuition fee is a systemwide mandatory Category 1 fee based on student level (i.e., undergraduate, graduate, credential) and unit load (i.e., 0-6 units and 6.1+ units). Category I fees are established by the CSU Board of Trustees used to support basic instruction and other mandatory university costs. For a list of latest rates of Tuition and Other Fees, visit https://www.csun.edu/stufin/tuition

T

U

Utilities:
Funding for the following campus-wide expenditures: electricity, gas, water, sewage, as well as utilities-related equipment, contractual services, and technological expenses

V

W

X

Y

Z