Handbook of Operating Procedures

I. POLICY AND GENERAL STATEMENT

It is the policy of The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston ("University") to create and maintain certain departments to provide a wide range of services and products that are considered consistent with its institutional mission. Services are provided to students and employees; to internal departments; and to external clients.

Depending upon the nature of the service and the centrality of the service to the institutional mission, the department may be funded in one of several ways and, depending upon its funding and other variables, may or may not charge fees to its clients.

II. PROCEDURE

     A. Support Departments Funded by State Appropriations

Support departments are funded solely from state appropriations and provide services at no charge to their clients. They exist to serve internal clients and client departments and are fundamental to conducting the everyday business of the University.

Examples of this type of department are General Accounting, Procurement Services, and Sponsored Projects Administration.

     B. Service Providers that Charge Fees for Services

          1. Auxiliary Enterprises

An auxiliary enterprise furnishes a service directly or indirectly to employees, trainees and others and charges a fee related to, but not necessarily equal to, the cost of service. The distinguishing characteristic of most auxiliary enterprises is that they are managed essentially as self-supporting activities, although sometimes a portion of student fees or other support is allocated to assist these activities.

Examples of auxiliary enterprises are University Housing and the Recreation Center.

For more information, refer to the Auxiliary Enterprises website.

          2. Service Centers

The University has service providers that are oriented primarily to internal departmental clients and provide institutional support functions for fees. The services provided might be purchased from commercial sources, but for reasons of convenience, cost, or control are provided more effectively by a University service center.  In some instances, fee structures are designed to recover the service centers' direct and indirect costs, yet in others, the center is merely a re-charge center to recover direct costs.

Examples of service providers that charge fees for services and are oriented toward serving internal department clients include Printing Services and Media Services.

University community members are encouraged to use internal service centers to provide needed services if they provide the needed service at a competitive price.

For more information refer to https://inside.uth.edu/finance/general-accounting/contact.htm.

III. CONTACTS

• • Finance
  • 713-500-4925
  • https://inside.uth.edu/finance/general-accounting/contact.htm

---