An asset is a tangible or intangible item that has a commercial or exchange value to the University. Some examples are: cash, government receivable, a building, a piece of equipment, a vehicule. An asset account should normally have a debit balance on the General Ledger.

Liabilities are obligations of the University to transfer assets or provide services to other parties in the future as a result of past transactions or events. Some examples are: unpaid balances to vendors for items that have been received; tuition and fees collected from students before the academic year has started; and money set aside to fulfill promises to pay pension and health benefits to current employees after they retire. A liability account normally should have a credit balance on the General Ledger.听

Control Accounts provide a link between the Operating Ledger and General Ledger. For example, any dollar posted to an expenditure account in the Operating Ledger produces a corresponding dollar in the expenditure control account in the General Ledger to ensure the system is always in balance.

Note: Transactions cannot be posted directly to Control Accounts.

Fund Balance is calculated as the difference between assets and liabilities in a fund and is found on the General Ledger. It is also defined as the cumulative results of a fund.

Note: Transactions cannot be posted directly to听Fund Balance听Accounts.

Income generated by the supply of goods or services by the University unit to an external customer. Some examples are: tuition and fee revenue, sales of goods and services to external entities, and earnings on investments. A revenue account should normally have a credit balance on the Operating Ledger.

The cost of human resources including: salaries and wages, overtime, pension and other payments. Benefits are also听part of Salary Related Account codes.听Salary Related Accounts should normally have a debit balance on the Operating Ledger.

The cost of goods delivered or services rendered, whether paid or accrued, including expenses, debt service, and capital outlays. An expenditure account should normally have a debit balance on the Operating Ledger.

Fund transfers are defined as either a) a reallocation of resources that are not associated with specific revenues or expenditures, or b) reallocating a prior year's revenue or expense to another fund.