Should You Blow Up Your Budget Model? with David Rosowsky, PhD

Sarah Holtan, PhD, sits down with Dr. David Rosowsky PHD, Chief optimism officer, connector, collider, university senior leader, and author, for a masterclass in a subject that makes most academics run for the hills: the university budget model. In this blunt and refreshingly clear conversation, Dr. Rosowsky—sometimes called the "Ted Lasso of higher ed"—cuts through the jargon and political noise to reveal why so many institutions get budget model transitions dangerously wrong.Dr. Rosowsky breaks down the critical difference between a university’s budget (the amount of money available) and its budget model (the rules for allocating that money). He explains the spectrum of models, from highly centralized systems to the more transparent Responsibility Centered Management (RCM), and clarifies that the “best” model depends on an institution's unique culture and strategic goals.The conversation offers crucial guidance on the why, when, and how of changing a budget model, stressing that the best time for change is during periods of stability, not crisis. Dr. Rosowsky also discusses the right level of faculty engagement and identifies deans and department heads as the key drivers of a successful budget system. This is a must-listen for leader looking to align financial strategy with institutional mission. Episode Highlights:05:24  -  What they sort of assume is that if we fix the budget model, we somehow fix the budget, or we somehow create new revenue or new money, so that conflation happens all the time. The budget model is not the budget.12:01 -  The decision to change the budget model is made at the wrong time, right? It's made when campuses feel there's a crisis present or a crisis looming.22:58 - Why are we doing this? What are the outcomes we hope to achieve? What are the fears or concerns or worries or anxieties we might have that we can track and monitor? 26:56 - The levers that can be pulled. Those are being pulled by department chairs and by deans. Sarah Holtan, PhDLinkedInDavid Rosowsky, PhDLinkedInWhat’s the Best Budget Model for Our Institution?