Academic Account Types

It is important to know the differences between account types. The differences will impact who loads a budget, the expiration date of the spendable amount, what the money can be used for, and if the money can be comingled. If you are unsure of what type of account you have, your Dean's Office can help answer any questions.

  

 Account Number Sections

Each line item (account string) in the budget or general ledger is made up of four sections. Each account is a combination of a Responsibility Center (RC) and Restriction. RCs and Restrictions are made up of five digits. The Fund number designates what type of line item it is. For expenses, this is either 06 for research or 01 for other expenses. The Natural is four digits at the end of the string and it designates what line item it is. For example, a natural of 6200 is office supplies and a natural of 6000 is full time salaried staff. You can work with your Dean's Office to learn more about individual naturals.

The example of 06-01000-00000-6200 is research mileage for the Dean's Office of the College of Arts and Sciences.  

Fund Responsibility Center (RC) Restriction Natural
06 01000 00000 6905
Research Arts and Sciences Dean's Office Unrestricted Mileage

 

 

 Account Number Types

Unrestricted Department Funds

Unrestricted accounts are funded by the annual budget as either temporary or permanent allocations. These funds come from core operating activities, primarily tuition and fee revenue. Your department has one or more permanent unrestricted accounts. The funds expire at the end of the fiscal year. These are generally designated by a restriction of five zeros (xx-xxxxx-00000-xxxx). Unrestricted salary dollars include benefits on the back end automatically. Some exceptions are made for agency, first dollar, or specialty accounts that are monitored by either the Office of the Provost or the Office of Research and Innovation.

Restricted - Gift, Endowment, Quasi Endowment, Grant and First Dollar*

Restricted accounts fall under five definitions. All restricted accounts require budgeting for fringe benefits whenever salaries are spent.

Gift accounts start with a 4 restriction (xx-xxxxx-4xxxx-xxxx). Gifts and revenue into these accounts is intended for specific activities outlined in the agreement of the account. While equity in these accounts does not automatically expire, a plan to expend the funds should be established with your Dean's Office.

Endowment accounts start with an 8 restriction (xx-xxxxx-8xxxx-xxxx). Each endowment account has two parts: a permanently restricted account and a temporarily restricted account. The temporarily restricted account is funded by the investment gains of the permanently restricted account. Only the temporarily restricted portion is expendable. Each year, your College or School is given projections of additional spendable. While the equity in the temporarily restricted endowment account does not expire, a plan to expend the funds should be established with your Dean's Office.

Quasi Endowment accounts start with a 5 restriction (xx-xxxxx-5xxxx-xxxx). Each quasi endowment account has two parts: a permanently restricted account and a temporarily restricted account. The temporarily restricted account is funded by the investment gains of the permanently restricted account. Only the temporarily restricted portion is expendable. Each year, your College or School is given projections of the upcoming spendable. Equity in the temporarily restricted account expires annually.

Grant accounts start with a 7 restriction (xx-xxxxx-7xxxx-xxxx). Grant expenditures are restricted to the signed agreement, amount, and dates of the grant. New agreements such as an extension must be executed or else the spendable expires.

First Dollar accounts start with a 6 RC and have a five zeros restriction (xx-6xxxx-00000-xxxx). These funds are designated gifts to operations. The equity received in these accounts before the fourth quarter of the fiscal year expires annually.

Specialty Accounts - Startup, RRG, Grant Incentive, Explorer, Agency, CIP

Specialty accounts follow rules based on funding. Often these are accounts that are funded by either restricted or unrestricted funds on the back end.

Startup accounts are given to some faculty who are given large startup commitments over multiple years. While the funding on the back end is often unrestricted with unspent dollars expiring, the commitment often lasts the full term of the startup offer. If you have a startup account, you should talk to your Dean's Office early and often about your plans to spend your startup costs. Faculty without individual accounts have their startup tracked at the college or department level; however, all faculty should keep track of what expenses should be a part of their startup package to differentiate them from any other commitments.

RRG or Regular Research Grants are internal awards that have an RC that starts with 15 (xx-15xxx-00000-xxxx). These are unrestricted funds but they cannot be transferred to other unrestricted funds. While the funds expire at the end of the fiscal year, the commitment of funding is planned around the RRG application, and flexibility of funding is often provided by the Office of Research and Innovation so that all commitments are fulfilled regardless of fiscal years. These awards are based on a calendar year so unspent funds are swept in January. Budget requests can be made to innovation@marquette.edu.

Grant Incentive accounts are established for PI's who receive incentive allocations from their college, and they have an RC that starts with 19 (xx-19xxx-00000-xxxx). On the back end, these are unrestricted funds, although because of the temporary nature of the budget, fringe benefits must be calculated for salary expenses. The commitment of incentive funds lasts the life of the grant that the earnings were based on plus two years. Your Dean's Office works with the Office of Research and Innovation and the Budget Office to determine available funds. 

Explorer Challenge accounts, along with the President's Challenge accounts, are funded by gifts on the back end and operate as a commitment of funding for a certain time period. Fringe benefits must be considered in the budget. Budgets are established through the Office of Research and Innovation and the Office of the Comptroller. These accounts start with an 099 for the RC (xx-099xxx-00000-xxxx).

Agency accounts start with a 2 RC (xx-2xxxx-00000-xxxx). These are funds held by Marquette that belong to an outside but affiliated organization. These are rare, and if you have access to one, you should discuss all agency accounts with your Dean's Office.

Construction in Progress or CIP accounts start with a 3 RC (xx-3xxxx-00000-xxx). These are established for approved capital projects in the major and minor capital budget. These are rare for academic units and you should work with your Dean's Office if you become involved in a project with a CIP account.