University departments use a variety of products or services to perform their activities. When these products or services are provided within the university these units function as nonprofit businesses and are called recharge or service centers. The cost of providing products and services are allocated to users, including federally sponsored agreements, by establishing billing rates which are applied to the actual usage of services. The rate is designed to recover costs from those users who benefit from the products or services offered. This workshop will look at considerations when setting up and operating a service center, including monitoring and oversight. This workshop will also look in-depth at the rate development including components of the budget, the rate base and service center audits.
This workshop is intended for participants who have some basic understanding of service centers, and are responsible for either the operation of a service center, or have oversight or compliance responsibilities. It is expected that attendees have had at least minimal exposure to service centers at their institution, however, the workshop will start with a discussion of the principles governing service or recharge centers.
Intermediate