ANN ARBOR—A new University of Michigan Web site provides a concise online tutorial for people seeking information about the basic workings of the University’s budget, focusing in particular on the General Fund?the source of support for U-M’s educational enterprise. It can be accessed from the U-M’s Budget Update Web site: www.vpcomm.umich.edu/budget/tutorial.html.

The tutorial, “University of Michigan Funding: A Snapshot,” was created in response to questions from students and others about how the University is funded. It also has information about state support for higher education, financial aid, donor support and links to more in-depth resources.

“It is important that students, faculty and staff share an understanding of where University funding comes from and how that money is used,” said Vice President for Communications David Lampe. “It’s critical, especially in these troubled economic times, to be transparent about our finances.”

The tutorial is part of ongoing communication efforts regarding U-M’s financial situation and budget process that include President Mary Sue Coleman’s April 14 fireside chat with students, presentations by Provost Teresa Sullivan to the Senate Assembly and Senate Advisory Committee on University Affairs, and presentations by Vice Provost Philip Hanlon at the College of Engineering, School of Dentistry and Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy.

The tutorial lays out the basics of the financial model that allows the University to preserve the excellence of a U-M education while keeping it accessible and affordable for students, Lampe added.