Budget Management 101- October 2024

Through this professional certificate course, participants will learn the fundamentals of budgeting, how to develop budget plans, manage costs, use technology, and much more associated with successful budgeting in the admission office.

The basics

• Intended audience: Postsecondary admission officers.
• Cost: $225 for NACAC members, $400 for nonmembers.
• Estimated completion time: Five weeks.
  • Participants have six months to access and complete the course.
  • Approximately 2-3 hours per week
• Upon completion: A completion certificate and a digital badge.

Course description

This course is designed to help admission professionals understand budget management. From planning budgets to making difficult decisions, this course will offer individuals the opportunity to better understand the nuances of managing a budget within the framework of admission. The course will review both operating and compensation budgets.  Participants will construct budgets that align with their current work and consider ways in which they would develop budgets that expand beyond their current responsibilities to better appreciate how they would grow in this aspect of the profession.

After taking this course, you will be able to: 

• Understand the fundamentals of budgeting: Gain a solid foundation in budgetary principles, including types of budgets, components of a budget, and the budgeting process in the higher education context.  
• Develop budget plans: Learn to create effective and realistic budget plans that align with the strategic goals of the admission office and the broader institution.  
• Managing costs: Understand and apply various strategies for cost control and expense management, ensuring efficient use of resources.  
• Use of technology: Explore the use of technology and tools in budget planning and monitoring, enhancing efficiency and accuracy.  
• Navigate challenges: Learn to identify and address common financial challenges in college admissions, such as fluctuating enrollment numbers and changing funding landscapes.  

Registration options

PLEASE NOTE: Registration is limited. All requests to switch cohorts, extend course access (by one month) or changes to course registrations will be subject to a $50 processing fee per person/per course. No refunds will be processed.   

Cost

• $225 for NACAC members* 
• $400 for nonmembers

A 20 percent discount is available for offices of four or more participants.

*Unsure if you are a NACAC member? You may be eligible through your school or organization’s membership. Contact customer service for more information.  

Questions?

For purchasing and billing questions, please email customerservice@nacacnet.org. For questions about the course, please email pd@nacacnet.org. 

Program Director

As program director, Matthew Boyce has helped plan and develop this course as a subject matter expert currently working in the field. He will provide instruction and support directly to the participants in the course.

Matthew Boyce serves as the Vice President for Enrollment Management at Emerson College, where he oversees the admissions, student financial services offices, and the office of student success. Before joining Emerson College, he was the Vice President for Enrollment at the University of Puget Sound, where he guided the strategic enrollment efforts. Prior to that, he spent nearly 10 years at George Mason University in various admission and enrollment-related roles, including Executive Director of Enrollment Management. Early in Matt’s career, he worked in college access as a regional director for a non-profit in Boston, where he developed a deep commitment to supporting underserved and underrepresented student populations. Matt holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology and philosophy from Villanova University, a master's degree in education from Boston University, and a PhD in education with a concentration in higher education from George Mason University.

Curriculum Advisor

As curriculum advisor, David Burge has been an integral part of the planning and development of this course. He provides guidance and feedback to the program director.

David Burge has served as Vice President for Enrollment Management at George Mason University since July 2015. Before coming to Mason, he served as Executive Director of Admission Services at Arizona State University and oversaw the execution of new student enrollment strategy for undergraduate and graduate, domestic and international students. Other professional experience includes the University of Kansas and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, holding senior leadership roles within each institution’s Office of Admissions and Scholarships.

David served as president of the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC) in 2017-18 and as President of the Great Plains Association for College Admission Counseling (GPACAC) in 2007-08. For six years, Mr. Burge was the faculty lead of the Admissions Middle Management Institute – a longstanding NACAC pre-conference workshop.

A native Kansan, his academic background includes two degrees from the University of Kansas: an undergraduate degree in English Literature and a master’s degree in Educational Policy and Leadership.

For more information about this course,  please visit our course page on nacacnet.org.