1101.2 Chart of Accounts – Baseline

Owned by Chad
Last updated: Jun 07, 2021

IMPORTANCE OF BASELINE CHART: The baseline chart must not only be uniform, but it must also be consistent from year to year. Changes to the baseline chart can create inconsistencies and complicate the comparison of activity and balances from year to year. As a result, changes to the structure of the baseline chart, while occasionally necessary, are infrequent and unusual. 

CRITERIA FOR REVIEWING PROPOSED CHANGES TO THE BASELINE CHART: The Chart Committee considers changes to the structure of the Baseline chart and recommends revision to the Controller's Office which has the final authority to approve changes to the baseline chart. The following criteria are used to review proposed changes to the baseline chart:

  • The request must clearly explain the problem(s) one is trying to solve and the expected outcome(s) that will be accomplished from the requested change and must include a proposed data dictionary definition. 
  • Impact on current or future reporting requirements 
  • The requested change must accommodate all existing internal and external reporting requirements, e.g., Financial Reporting - such as: 
    • Annual financial statements, IPEDs, other 
    • Managerial Reporting and Cost Accounting 
    • F&A Rate Proposals 
    • Budgeting information 
    • Legislative requests for information. 
  • Impact on NACUBO accounting structure- The requested change must fit the chart of accounts structure recommended by the National Association of College and University Business Officers (NACUBO). 
  • Use of appropriate Banner code(s)- The request must not result in using one code to account for something that by definition should be accounted for by a different code. New codes are not added to the baseline chart if the data that would be tracked by the new codes is already available within the existing structure. 
  • Feasibility of the request—The requested change must be workable within Banner FIS. Requested changes to codes that interface with other Banner systems must be sufficiently detailed to show that the change will work within Banner FIS. 
  • Other ramifications of the request- The request must identify ramifications to other fiscal and accounting operations including legal compliance, fiscal monitoring, financial analysis, etc. 
  • Timing of implementation—Changes to the baseline chart will usually only be implemented at the beginning of a new fiscal year. Requests for mid-year changes may be considered on an exception basis. To ensure sufficient review, proposed changes to the baseline chart must be submitted to the Assistant Controller 8 weeks prior to the proposed implementation date.

For more information pertaining to chart requests, please see the procedures manual.