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Virginia Commonwealth University/VCU Health System
Development of Legislative and Budget Priorities

This Advisory outlines the development process for legislative and budgetary priorities of VCU and the VCU Health System. It is important to note that with respect to federal priorities, the process outlined here only deals with what is commonly referred to as “earmarking” and does not pertain to the traditional “peer review” grant application process.

Goals of Priority Setting Process

The primary purpose of setting state and federal legislative and budget priorities is to ensure a well-planned approach to securing approval of critical funding needs for Virginia Commonwealth University and the VCU Health System.  Such planning will allow the university and Health System to dedicate an appropriate level of resources to navigate through the legislative and agency processes at the state and federal level.

Process to Establish Priorities

Vice Presidents for each respective area of responsibility will have full discretion to set internal review/approval processes for proposals to be considered for inclusion as a priority.  Such processes may include requirements for supporting documentation, internal review exercises, and deadlines that may be necessary, in addition to the optional template and annual timetables noted below.  Vice Presidents will advance those legislative and budget proposals that enhance the goals and mission of Virginia Commonwealth University and VCU Health System to fellow Vice Presidents and the President for final consideration.

Virginia Commonwealth University and the VCU Health System will not support legislative or budget proposals that are advanced without following the process established in this advisory.

Legislative and budget proposals are ultimately submitted to state and federal agencies in a variety of formats.  Such formats change from year-to-year and are not always known in advance of required decision timelines for VCU and the VCU Health System.  Each Vice President will provide direction on the format and level of detail for any such proposals originating in their area of responsibility.  For convenience, we have developed an optional template for consideration on federal matters.  With respect to state proposals, the Office of the Senior Vice President for Finance and Administration will format proposals in the decision brief template provided by the Department of Planning and Budget.

Annual Timetable

While the state and federal legislative timetable for legislative and budget processes are subject to change each year, the following timetables will provide a general sense of the calendar of events, with the understanding that each Vice President may develop other internal deadlines. 

Recognizing that legislative and budget issues unique to Virginia Commonwealth University and the VCU Health System may materialize past certain deadlines noted in the annual timetable, it is unlikely that VCU will able to advance a proposal identified after November for state matters and February for federal matters in order to be approved for the upcoming state (July 1) and federal (October 1) fiscal year.  VCU will, however, continue to work with advocacy associations throughout the year on matters of mutual interest to universities and hospitals.

On a related topic, Virginia Commonwealth University and the VCU Health System will work in tandem with many professional and advocacy associations on legislative initiatives of mutual interest.  Please see additional information on taking public positions on legislative and budgetary issues.

Virginia Commonwealth University | Government Relations
Date Last Modified: June 07, 2006
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