Wyo. Code R. 057-0001-5
Effective Date: 06/04/2001 to 02/04/2002
Rule Type: Superceded Rules & Regulations
Reference Number: 057.0001.5.06042001
Wyoming Statute 21-18-202(c) assigns the Commission's administrative functions.
This chapter governs the Commission's administrative functions.
(a) The Commission adopted the Base-Plus Funding Allocation Model June 23, 1999 to achieve funding equity among the colleges and to secure funding parity between each college and its comparator group. The base allocation is intended to support the operation and maintenance of the college system and to address equity and parity. The plus allocation is intended to address incentive or performance funded initiatives.
(b) A comparator group is established for each college, composed of the Wyoming college and eleven comparator institutions. The comparator institutions are selected on the basis of four criteria: enrollment size, program mix, full-time/part-time student mix, and area population. The information is derived from the IPEDS Institutional Characteristics data set. The Commission shall accomplish subsequent reviews.
(c) There are two components to the Funding Allocation Model utilized for the colleges. The first component is the 'Comparator Calculation' which establishes each college's percentage relationship to its group of comparators. The second component allocates new state and local appropriations among the colleges. Institutional revenues remain with the colleges. The Funding Allocation Model shall be utilized effective July 1, 2000.
(d) The Comparator Calculation is derived as follows:
(i) The Comparator Calculation utilizes the most recently available revenue and enrollment data as of the budget preparation date from the National Center for Educational Statistics' Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) for each college and for each college in the comparator groups. Because the Wyoming colleges are in a biennium-funding environment, IPEDS data for two years is utilized. The two years are added together and divided by two to determine the average and to balance variations between fiscal years. The Basic College Data and Basic Comparator Data include Unrestricted Education and General Revenue and Student Full-time Equivalency. Student FTE is the full-time enrollment plus 1/3 of the part-time enrollment for the fall term reported in IPEDS.
(ii) The Unrestricted E&G Revenue is divided by the Student FTE to determine the Unrestricted E&G Revenue per FTE for each college. The median Unrestricted E&G Revenue per FTE for each Comparator group is determined and displayed.
(iii) The revenue per FTE of each college is divided by the median revenue per FTE of each comparator group to establish the relationship of each college to its comparators. This is the direct comparator relationship, and it is the foundation for Exception Budget requests for equity and parity.
(iv) Community service and continuing education revenues are generally related to self-supporting programs, and revenues are usually offset by approximately equal expenditures. Fees collected by the colleges vary widely across the system, and though they are treated in the accounting system as unrestricted revenue, they are usually subject to implied restrictions. To neutralize varying college policies in these areas as incentive/disincentive factors in allocation, they are excluded in the comparator calculation. Deducting the revenue adjustments provides the net revenue per FTE, which is then used to calculate the Adjusted Revenue/FTE % of Comparator. This relationship is utilized in funding allocation only.
(e) The Funding Allocation Model determines the allocation of funding among the colleges using the Adjusted Revenue/FTE % of Comparator as established in (c)(iv) above.
(i) The Funding Allocation Model utilizes the two major revenue sources: state appropriations and local appropriations. Continuing education, community service, and fees, are not included. The total of the two revenue sources in the standard budget for the biennium is the foundation for the calculation.
(ii) New funding may be positive or negative. If negative, as in projected local revenues, the allocation is shared proportionately among all colleges.
(iii) Unless new state appropriations are restricted, or the expenditure specified in some manner, new state appropriations and new positive local appropriations shall be allocated 50% to parity (proportional allocation) and 50% to equity allocation. Any college exceeding 105% of its direct comparator relationship will contribute its share of funds above 105% of the proportional allocation to equity adjustments.
(iv) Parity allocation is made according to the distribution percentage of the total state and local revenues for each college, as established on June 30 of odd-numbered years in the budget request year.
(v) Equity allocation is intended to equalize the funding position of colleges across the Wyoming system. Fifty percent of new state or local appropriation funding (plus any funding derived from a college exceeding 105%) are utilized. The college with the greatest gap between that college and its comparator group is funded first, to bring that college to the level of the next college, then both colleges are provided equity adjustments in the attempt to reach the level of the next college, and so on. The target percentage relationship is the Adjusted Revenue/FTE %.
(vi) For parity or equity adjustments in local revenues, state appropriations equal to the local appropriations are recaptured from the colleges and redistributed as detailed in 5(e)(ii through v).
(f) The Comparator Calculation for each college is adjusted biennially using the most recently available two years of information from IPEDS.
(g) Every five years, or when four or more of the colleges achieve parity (100%) with their comparator groups, the comparator colleges are to be reviewed.
(h) As an adjunct to the funding allocation model, revenues received by the Commission's Contingency Reserve Account, to be utilized only for facility emergency repairs and/or preventive maintenance, shall be distributed as follows:
(i) The distribution is made by gross square footage for Education and & General facilities (excluding gross square footage of auxiliary facilities) as of June 23, 1999.
(ii) Established with the initial base for the college system are the following Contingency Reserve Account percentages: Casper, 19.59%; Central, 10.25%; Eastern, 7.06%; LCCC, 19.72%; Northwest, 13.65%; Northern, 11.55%; and Western, 18.19%.
(i) Subsequent changes to square-footage by any college will not subsequently alter the distribution percentages established in the initial calculation of the base.
(j) Actual distribution of contingency reserve funds will depend upon receipt of funds by the Commission. Distribution to the colleges will be made as the Commission determines.
(k) The funding allocation model may be reviewed by the Commission as necessary and proposed revisions recommended for rules.
(a) The Commission shall prepare a consolidated budget request for state assistance, including state funding for Commission programs, the community colleges, and Wyoming Public Television in a format determined by the Department of Administration and Information
(b) Requests for state appropriations to fund the regular support and operation of the colleges shall be developed utilizing a Commission adopted model.
(c) The Commission shall hold at least one public budget hearing for the community colleges, after which the consolidated request for state assistance shall be submitted to the governor.
(d) The Commission adopted the Base-Plus Funding Allocation Model June 23, 1999 to achieve funding equity among the colleges and to secure funding parity between each college and its comparator group. The Budget Request Model is linked to that concept.
(e) There are two components to the Budget Request Model as it relates to funding for the community college system: the Standard Budget Request and the Exception Budget Request.
(f) The Standard Budget Request is developed as follows:
(i) Determine community college funding as of June 30 in the odd-numbered year of the budget request development as shown on the Biennial Funding Report. The distribution percentage of total state and local appropriations is calculated and is the basis for proportional allocations for the next biennium.
(ii) Identify adjustments to the June college funding amounts, such as supplementary state appropriations, changes in the projections for local appropriations, changes in other anticipated revenues for the colleges, and one-time funding. The identified amounts may be recalculated to determine a biennial amount. Add or subtract these amounts to the June 30 funding.
(iii) After adjustments are made to the June 30 funding, the result is the Standard Budget Estimate for the ensuing biennium.
(iv) The total state and local appropriations are calculated and become the base for the request for equity and/or parity adjustments in the Exception Budget Request.
(g) The Exception Budget Request for equity/parity is developed as follows:
(i) Exception budget requests for equity and parity are calculated utilizing the comparator information developed in the 'Comparator Calculation,' Rules Chapter 5, Section 5 (d)(iii).
(ii) Each college's direct comparator relationship is utilized to determine the college's total state and local revenue if funded at 100% of the comparators. The direct comparator relationship is the Wyo- ming college unrestricted education and general revenue per FTE compared to the median of the comparators unrestricted education and general revenue per FTE.
(iii) The 100% funding level is compared to the college’s Standard Budget Estimate state and local appropriations level to determine whether the college is under- or over-funded in relationship to its comparators.
(iv) The total under- or over-funding for all colleges of the system determines the amount of the Exception Budget Request for equity/parity funding.
(v) If funded by the legislature, new funding would be allocated as described in the funding allocation model.
(h) Standard and Exception Budget Requests for other programs assigned to the Commission are developed in consultation with the Commission, the colleges, and the Budget Division of the Department of Administration and Information.
(i) The Commission may seek additional funding from state or other sources to support incentive and/or performance funds that address statewide initiatives.
(j) The executive director will report to the Commission and the community colleges on action taken by the governor and the legislature on the request for state appropriations.
(k) The Budget Division of the Department of Administration and Information is not bound by the provisions of this section.
(a) State funding for the assistance of community colleges shall be allocated by the Commission to the community colleges on the basis of the funding allocation model approved by the Commission, unless otherwise directed by the legislature.
(b) Disbursements of state appropriations shall be made by the Commission to the community colleges in accordance with the funding allocation model or other legislative instructions and at times and in amounts determined by the Commission.
(c) Unless otherwise specified by the Commission, payments to the community colleges will be made on or about July 15, September 15, December 15, and March 15 of each fiscal year in the biennium.
(d) Unless otherwise specified by the Commission, payments to the community colleges shall be made in the amounts of 15%, 15%, 10%, and 10% of the total amount of state appropriations designated for each college on the respective dates of each fiscal year in the biennium.
(e) Contingency reserve account funds shall be disbursed at times determined by the Commission.
(f) Any additional state funding appropriated to the Commission for distribution to the colleges will be disbursed at times and in amounts to be determined by the Commission.
“A biennial funding report shall be provided by each community college to the community college commission at the beginning of each biennium in a form and format determined by the commission. Any amendments to the report shall be provided to the commission immediately after adoption by the board.” (W.S. 21-18-205(b).
Commission operations are governed by Chapter 2, Commission Rules.
The Commission shall collaborate with college trustees, college administrators, the Governor’s office, and the legislature to determine statewide priorities that could be addressed by the college system.