Although budget management at Lafayette is a continuous process that takes place throughout the year and occurs at nearly every level within the College, the following is a general description of the cycle.
| July | Start of the fiscal year |
| October | Solicitation of expenditure requests (staffing, capital/facilities-related, IT, and operating) for consideration for the following fiscal year(s) |
| October through March | Continual review, prioritization, and analyses of expenditure requests; discussions with Budget Advisory Committee, Cabinet, and Faculty Academic Policy Committee |
| November | Enrollment Planning Committee provides guidance on FYS targets and Office of Financial Aid provides guidance about grant targets |
| December | Budget information is reviewed with Cabinet, the Budget Advisory Committee, and the Faculty Academic Policy Committees, and input is solicited |
| January | The Board of Trustees considers the Administration’s recommendations for tuition and fee increases, financial aid investments, and enrollment targets |
| March | The Board of Trustees considers the Administration’s recommendations for the operating budget, including compensation-related and capital-related expenses |
| April | Divisions and Departments distribute their budget allocations into the various accounts based on their plan of how the money will be spent |
| June | The approved operating budget is available in Banner for authorized viewing |