Tech Receives Approval on CAR Plan
Following review by University System of Georgia (USG) Chancellor Steve Wrigley, Georgia Tech has received approval on its action plan in response to the Comprehensive Administrative Review (CAR).
The plan identifies and redirects nearly $23 million in general and administrative spending through the elimination of vacant positions, modification of roles, improved organizational structures, utility and facility cost savings, and more efficient processes. Nearly $12 million of this total was incorporated into Institute budget allocations entering Fiscal Year 2020, with the remainder being redirected and programmed for specific purposes through the end of Fiscal Year 2021. Additionally, the plan establishes actions needed to address opportunities for improvement identified in the CAR assessment. The approved plan does not involve the elimination of positions that are currently occupied.
The CAR was announced as a systemwide initiative by Chancellor Wrigley in April 2017 to support USG’s goals for enhanced academic success and affordability. The purpose of the review was to identify administrative cost savings in order to redirect existing funds for the benefit of USG’s core mission of teaching, research, and service. Georgia Tech was among the first institutions to participate in the review, which included a staff activity assessment and a report identifying areas for improvement.
“Engaging our campus in the CAR process has provided us an opportunity to rethink the best use of the resources that have been entrusted to us,” said President Ángel Cabrera. “Working together, we have created an action plan that allows us to achieve savings that can be redirected to areas that benefit our students, including increasing access and affordability. We’ve already seen some promising results and are committed to continuous improvement as we work our plan.”
Many of the opportunities for improvement identified in the CAR assessment have already been implemented. Earlier this year, the Office of Information Technology restructured and integrated the Information Technology Group, which had been organized within Campus Services. Changes within Institute Communications will bring greater central coordination and consistency of services, processes and skills for staff who occupy these roles. Changes to Human Resources services, processes, roles, and organizational structure will occur after Tech completes its OneUSG integration in March 2020.
Redirected spending will support students in three areas of need: affordability and access, retention and graduation, and student well-being. The savings will also be redirected to achieve greater long-term efficiency and effectiveness of administrative operations.