Office of the Vice President for Finance and Administration and Treasurer: records and publications

The Office of the Vice President for Finance and Administration and Treasurer is a major sustaining unit of the college. Its overall mission is "to provide the College Community with high quality, efficient service and support in the areas of community life, physical environment, financial stewardship and human and technological resources, in order to promote the academic mission of the college".

As Bowdoin adjusted to the modern era with a major administrative expansion around 1960, the original Office of the Treasurer became departmentalized according to its different functions. Staff positions were created in the areas of financial policy administration; accounting procedures; payroll activities; budgeting; and fund, endowment and investment structuring.

As the college grew further, sustaining functions such as security, maintenance, dining services, provision of books and supplies, and personnel services became separate departments within Finance and Administration. In 1996 divisions within this unit were: Assistant to the Treasurer; Budget Office; Controller's Office; Computing Center; Human Resources; Office of Records and Research; Security; Physical Plant; Campus Services; Dining Service; the Children's Center; the Bookstore.

Financial activities include: budgeting, administration of payroll, student billing, accounts receivable and payable, insurance oversight, financial planning necessary to structure future growth, special funds, and endowments or projects (such as building projects).