In the University of Iowa listings, what is the difference between “General Fund,” “Other Funds” and “Total?”
The general fund is money that comes from the universitys general operating budget, which comes from taxpayer money and tuition paid by students. The Other Funds category for a faculty member is almost always money that comes from some kind of research grant. For a physician at University Hospitals, Other Funds also includes money from the Faculty Practice Plan, which is money doctors earn for providing care to patients. Doctors are usually paid out of the general fund only if they teach a medical course. Youll notice that most employees of University Hospitals are paid exclusively out of Other Funds. Thats because most are paid through money that comes in from patients, not out of taxpayer coffers. Thats also true of other university departments, including Parking and Transportation and Residence Services, that are designed to pay for themselves.
