Finance & Administration

 

Service Unit Advisory Committee

As part of Stony Brook University’s New Economic Framework (NEF), a Service Unit Advisory Committee (SUAC) was established to ensure our administrative operations are transparent, accountable, and aligned with the university’s core mission. This committee serves as a vital link between the Strategic Budget Executive Team (SBET) and the campus community, providing data-driven recommendations on how our service units—such as Facilities, IT, and Student Affairs—support the needs of our revenue-generating academic and research units. By fostering two-way communication and developing clear Service Level Agreements (SLAs), the committee helps safeguard a system of 'checks and balances' that ensures resources are allocated effectively to support Stony Brook’s long-term growth.

History

As part of the New Economic Framework (opens in a new window), three new committees were established to aid the Strategic Budget Executive Team (SBET) in reviewing budget submissions from units at Stony Brook University (excludes Stony Brook Medicine). These new committees promote broad stakeholder involvement, facilitate information sharing, and support the tenets of the guiding principles.

  • Service Unit Advisory Committee
  • Budget Planning Committee - The Budget Planning Committee leads implementation and education initiatives, drafts updated financial management policies and periodically performs a holistic review of the model’s design.
  • Space Management Committee - The Space Management Committee comprehensively reviews assignable square footage and monitors/enforces policies related to space usage.

More about the Service Unit Advisory Committee

  • What do they do? - Each member of the Service Unit Advisory Committee is tasked with providing opinions and guidance to the SBET related to their Service Unit (defined below). They are the subject matter experts in their individual Service Unit and have the knowledge to provide context, data and information to the SBET. This could look like:
    • Assessing strategic objectives
    • Evaluating service level demands
    • Examining workforce plans
    • Offering suggestions for performance improvement
    • Compiling KPIs and other data elements related to operations
    • Collecting campus feedback on administrative support services
  • What are they working on now? - Right now their charge is to develop the Service Level Agreements (SLAs) between revenue units and select service units.
  • Who are the members? -  Jed Shivers, Melissa Hogarty, Lorena Mancino, Braden Hosch, Andrew Singer, David Wrobel, Richard Beatty, Shari Miller, Stacy Jaffee, Richard Gatteau, Brenda Anderson, Angelique Alicea, and Thomas Briggs.

What is a Service Level Agreement (SLA)?

An SLA is a formal document that defines the relationship between a Service Unit (like Facilities or IT) and the campus units they support. It outlines the specific services provided, the expected level of performance, and the Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) used to measure success.

Service Units

At Stony Brook University, there are several key Service Units that provide essential administrative and operational support across campus. These units are responsible for delivering services that enable our revenue-generating units to focus on their core missions of education and research.Under the New Economic Framework (NEF), the following areas are classified as Service Units:

  • Administration
  • Athletics
  • Communications
  • Economic Development
  • Facilities
  • Government Relations
  • Office of the President
  • Student Affairs
  • University Advancement
  • Vice President for Research (VPR) 

Frequently Asked Questions

Please email service_level_agreements@stonybrook.edu

Under our new budget model, transparency and accountability are paramount. SLAs provide a "check and balance" system, ensuring that revenue-generating units understand exactly what services they are paying for and that Service Units have the resources and workforce plans necessary to meet those demands.

While the Service Unit Advisory Committee provides recommendations, evaluations of workforce plans, and service demand data, the final budget approval rests with the Strategic Budget Executive Team (SBET). This process ensures that administrative costs are aligned with the University’s overall strategic priorities.

Once finalized, SLAs will be posted on this website. Please note that for security and privacy reasons, these documents will be available only to those with a stonybrook.edu email address.

One of the primary charges of the SUAC is to collect campus feedback. You can submit questions or feedback regarding administrative support services by emailing service_level_agreements@stonybrook.edu. This input helps the committee identify areas for performance improvement and better alignment with campus needs.

The SUAC focuses on university-wide Service Units. While units within the East Campus (Stony Brook Medicine) or the Provost’s Area provide essential support, they often follow specific budget submission paths directed to their respective Executive Vice Presidents or the Provost.