Multiple objective capital budgeting within the university

Abstract The problem of selecting capital projects in universities is compounded by the existence of conflicting multiple objectives on the part of different groups within the university community. Administrators, faculty members, students and politicians all have different goals and projects which they feel are important to the university and themselves. Because of the multiple objective dimension of the capital budgeting process goal programming becomes an appropriate solution approach. However, because of the indivisibility of some capital projects, mixed integer goal programming, a variation of the traditional GP model, must be employed. The solution approach is demonstrated via an illustrative case example. Model goals in the example (which are prioritized by the top administrative officers of the university) exist for capital budget and operating expenses, building and laboratory construction, accreditation, political interest and area performance.