Financial and physical resources are allocated in response to priorities and processes established by the 2000-06 Academic Plan. The plan identifies an academic vision for the campus including new initiatives and detailed academic plans and priorities for each school and college. The plan's guiding principles address faculty position allocations, facility needs, staffing and infrastructure. Importantly, the academic plan also describes implementation strategies to achieve the plan's objectives.

In addition to the overriding direction provided by the academic plan, the campus employs other strategies to ensure financial and capital resources are available to support campus programs. Operating funds utilize a five-year planning horizon to ensure that executive leadership is fully knowledgeable of trends and consequences that result from certain alternatives. As another component of the operating budget, the campus utilizes a system of annual block grants to academic and support units that are weighted to reflect workload and productivity. To ensure capital needs are anticipated, the campus has published a ten-year all-funds capital improvement plan-the first in the University of California system.

To ensure adequate budgetary control, policies have been established and are enforced that address deficits within operating units. Major fund areas have reserve standards to promote flexibility as new opportunities or challenges arise. The university system and the campus employ independent auditors to review financial controls. In addition the campus administers an Internal Audit Services unit to review financial and policy compliance as well as promoting best management practices.

This long-range orientation to resource planning strives to ensure that current needs can be addressed while always preparing for our future.