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Stratus is the financial system that Towson University uses for budget, accounting, accounts payable and procurement. Stratus provides online, up-to-the-minute access to data. The system can be accessed from anywhere the Internet is available. Stratus Budgeting can assist users in working with budgets. 

A Budget Monitor can be established in Stratus to help users quickly see their cost center's financial status.  There are a number of views that can be set up with Budget Monitor, displaying your customized request, The Budget Monitor Tips and Tricks can provide useful tips when setting it up.  A short is available, as well as training guide explaining how to set up a Budget Monitor.

Budgets are loaded at the "child," or Stratus account, level. Child budgets are then rolled up to a parent level, which is where budget checking occurs. Budgets are never loaded directly to a parent, and are thus never transferred out of—or into. Our list of parent and child accounts with definitions is a helpful resource for understanding how budgets roll up. 

Chart of Accounts Crosswalk (excel)

Budget transfers should only be performed in order to adjust a cost center's spending plan and cover over expenditures. Budget transfers should not be done to move an expense. Expenses should always stay in the department with which they belong.  

Budget transfers from a state support cost center (cost center starting with a one or a two) to any other type of cost center (self support, auxiliary, agency etc) are not allowed. State support cost centers can only transfer budget  to another state support cost center (Parent/Child accounts (may not include all)).   Step by step directions are provided on how to complete a budget transfer.

If you are transferring between sources, you must contact the University Budget Office to process your request via the Transfer of Revenue Request Form. This form should be used when transferring budgets in the circumstances listed in the table below.

Transfer from:	Transfer to:
Self support	Self support
Self support	State support
Self support	Auxiliary support
Auxiliary support	Auxiliary support
Auxiliary support	State support

Self Support Department Guide

A self support cost center is funded solely on self-generated revenues and does not receive any state appropriations. All expenses incurred by the cost center must be covered by the revenue generated in that fiscal year.  Our Self Support Cost Center Guide Book (PDF) provides more context about budgeting for these cost center.

Programs

Each cost center is assigned to a program based on the purpose provided during the request process. These programs are essential for Towson University’s external reporting to the State of Maryland. Each year, as part of the external budget request process, the University Budget Office (UBO) must report on the prior year’s actual expenditures, the current year’s budget, and the proposed budget for the upcoming year. This information is aggregated by cost center and rolled up into the corresponding program. To ensure accurate reporting, the purpose of each cost center must align with one of the nine programs listed in the chart.

Program 1 – Instruction	This program includes expenditures for all formally organized activities that are part of the instruction program, including summer sessions and other periods outside the regular term.
Program 2 – Research	This program includes expenditures for research projects, financed by Federal agencies and private foundations, that are limited to the specific functions for which funds were granted.
Program 3 – Public Service	This program includes expenditures for activities that are established primarily to provide non-instructional services beneficial to individuals and groups external to the institution.  (non-instructional services are considered non-¾«Ñ¡Â鶹¶þÇø credit producing services)
Program 4 – Academic Support	This program includes expenditures for support services for the instruction program. It includes libraries, museums, media services, academic computing support, and administration.
Program 5 – Student Services	This program includes expenditures for offices of admissions and registrar. It includes counseling, career guidance, financial aid administration, student admissions and records, and student health services.
Program 6 – Institutional Support	This program provides for expenditures for executive management, fiscal operations, general administration, logistical services, administrative computing support, public relations, and public safety.
Program 7 - Operations and Maintenance of Plant	This program includes costs for maintenance of the physical plant for State-supported programs. Included are building and grounds maintenance, utilities, and major repairs and renovations.
Program 8 – Auxiliary Enterprises	This program is a self-supporting entity which provides goods and services to students, faculty and staff. Included are residence halls, food services, college stores, and intercollegiate athletics.
Program 17 - Scholarships and Fellowships	This program includes expenditures for scholarships and fellowships in the form of grants to students resulting from selection by the institution or from an entitlement program.

Changing a Budget

When requesting to make a change to your overall budget for either a self support or auxiliary cost center, fill out the self support or auxiliary budget amendment form (XLSX) and submit to the University Budget Office (UBO AT_TOWSON).