Improving Communications to Strengthen Budget Transparency at South Central College
Impact at a Glance
Improved transparency around budget decisions and priorities
Connected resource allocation more clearly to student outcomes
Created a consistent cycle of budget communications
Built greater shared stewardship of institutional resources
Established an ongoing process for assessing and improving budget practices
The Challenge
South Central College (SCC), a community and technical college in southern Minnesota, wanted to strengthen campus understanding of its budgeting policies, practices, and financial decisions. Although communication was frequent, leaders recognized that stakeholders across the college had different perspectives on resource needs and allocation practices.
The college wanted to better understand:
- How stakeholders perceived existing budget processes
- Where confusion or gaps in understanding existed
- How resource allocation connected to student success
- What data and criteria informed budget decisions
- How budget changes and priorities could be communicated more effectively
Rather than relying on assumptions, the college sought direct stakeholder feedback to guide improvements.
The Action
South Central College used NACUBO’s Budget Process Assessment to evaluate stakeholder perceptions and strengthen its budget communications.
The college:
- Customized the assessment to reflect its terminology and budget practices
- Gathered feedback from a diverse group of campus stakeholders
- Analyzed responses to identify gaps in understanding
- Revised budget instructions and communications based on the findings
- Developed a communication plan aligned with the planning and budgeting cycle
- Repeated the assessment after a subsequent budget cycle to identify additional opportunities for improvement
The process helped SCC create more frequent and consistent communication about how budget decisions are made and how resource allocation supports student outcomes.
The Results
Immediate Impact
- Identified gaps in stakeholder understanding of budget processes and priorities
- Revised communications and budget instructions to address confusion and uncertainty
- Provided clearer information about how resource decisions are made
- Strengthened communication about the connection between budgets and student outcomes
Process Improvements
- Established a more consistent cycle of budget communications
- Used repeated assessments to identify areas needing additional explanation
- Developed a more student-centered approach to budgeting
- Strengthened shared stewardship of institutional resources
- Improved stakeholder understanding of how strategy informs resource allocation
Ongoing Momentum
- Continue using the Budget Process Assessment during future budget cycles
- Explore new technology for data gathering and analysis
- Improve methods for collecting and assessing qualitative stakeholder feedback
- Embed assessment and communication practices into staff roles to maintain continuity as responsibilities change
“We plan to continue using the Budget Process Assessment during each budget cycle to gain insight on how the budget process is working, how communication is working and how well we are able to tie the budget to our student success strategic goals.”
Roxy TraxlerFormer Vice President for Administration and Finance
