Policy - University Publications
Policy: It is an Institute policy that all publications produced for audiences external to RIT be coordinated for design and printing through the University Publications Office. This policy insures a consistency of image and publications quality consistent with RIT's national reputation in the graphic arts. In addition, overall consistency is crucial to RIT's Admission and Development efforts and our position relative to our competition.
Budget Considerations: The Institute provides a partial budget required to provide the services necessary to produce approximately 300 publications designed and published annually. The intent of the Publications chargeback is to recover a portion of the costs for materials, equipment, and operating funds required, since these costs exceed funds allocated in the Publications Office budget. The goal is to recover only those funds that permit a balanced budget.
Rate for Service: University Publications calculates its chargeback based on the premise of recovering only those funds required to balance its budget. Based on the total funds to be recovered, University Publications totals the number of hours for creative services (graphic design and writing/content management) to be provided by RIT staff and divides that number into the amount to be recovered in order to arrive at the hourly rate charged. All budget units within the Institute are assessed at the same rate for services requested. RIT's chargeback rates are considerably below rates charged by local design firms, and an annual check is made to insure this.
Using the hourly formula, a chargeback rate is also assessed for creative services provided for the production of web sites, videos, CD-ROMs, or other media. University Publications may use the standard RIT chargeback rate amount to contract the services of freelance designers if outside assistance is needed in the production of these types of promotional media.
