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CHAPTER 2GENERAL INFORMATION

OVERVIEWThe CSU GAAP Accounting and Reporting Manual is intended to be a single resource for information regarding GAAP-basis accounting and state reporting. It is always a work in progress and is a collaborative effort between the CO and campuses, where everyone is a contributor and everyone is a reviewer. The intent is not to provide a full discourse on each and every topic, but instead to point out selected aspects of accounting which are unique to the CSU, not only as a public university, but also as an agency of the State of California.

CHAPTER FORMATMost chapters within the manual adhere to a uniform format, which includes the following sections:

1. GAAP Policies and ProceduresThis section elaborates each GAAP account’s definition and components as it relates to CSU.

2. Relevant Accounting LiteratureThis section lists GASB’s authoritative statements that are applicable to the specific topics or chapters.

3. Objectives of GAAP AdjustmentsThis section describes the purposes and reasons of why GAAP adjustments need to be recorded.

4. GAAP Accounting Treatment and Journal EntriesThis section includes the overview of related GAAP accounts that are covered within each chapter and the common GAAP adjustments illustrations or examples.

5. Reference ToolsThis section includes references to other materials, such as: Systemwide guidelines, document links, spreadsheets, executive orders, and other helpful reference material.

SINGLE PRINT VERSIONThere will be a single print, .pdf, version of the entire CSU GAAP Accounting and Reporting Manual posted at the website. The single print version will only be updated once per year, in conjunction with annual GAAP training. The single print document is helpful when you want to find all the information related to a specific topic, no matter where it resides in the manual. The user can use the “control find” functionality within the .pdf to search for a specific word like “accounts receivable” and see everywhere the word “accounts receivable” is used.

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REVISION CONTROLRevisions to the individual chapters within the CSU GAAP Accounting and Reporting Manual will be made as they are identified by users. Chapter titles listed at the SFSR website will include an indication as to when the text was last updated. The single print version of the manual will not include any revisions until it is updated annually, again, in conjunction with annual GAAP training.On the last page of each chapter there is a revision control log which is a history of all changes made to the content. Users should consult this page to determine revisions made to the content and the effective dates of those changes. A revision control log summary, which is a consolidation of all changes in the GAAP manual, is available in Chapter 2.1.

LISTSERVSListserv technology (mailing list) can best be considered an extension of electronic mail. Whereas e-mail is one-to-one communication, listservs allow one-to-many communication. Simply put, mail sent to a list sends an electronic message to many persons instead of just one. GAAP-campus listserv (GAAP@lists.calstate.edu) has been set up in order to facilitate discussion and information sharing for GAAP related topics or updates from the CO. GAAP-Aux listserv (GAAP-Aux@lists.calstate.edu) has been set up in order to facilitate discussion and information sharing particularly related to component units (auxiliaries) from the CO. To be a subscriber of either of these listservs, please contact your campus’ GAAP coordinators to be added to the list.

REFERENCE TOOLPlease refer to the Legal Accounting and Reporting Manual at the “Year-End Legal and GAAP Accounting Resources” page on the Systemwide Financial Standards and Reporting website for year-end legal basis closing instructions. They are not included in this manual.

For CSU users, please refer to GAAP Coordinator List and Access Request presentation slides at the Financial Services Training Library page for instructions on how to add, modify, or remove access to GAAP-campus/GAAP-aux listservs, TM1, FTP GAAP, PBC SharePoint.

For external users/contractors (such as KPMG auditors), please refer to Social Login Process for instructions on how to have access to PBC SharePoint.

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REVISION CONTROL

Document Title: CHAPTER 2 – GENERAL INFORMATION

REVISION AND APPROVAL HISTORYSection(s) Revised Summary of Revisions Revision

Date

Overall Added a comprehensive revision control log in Chapter 2.01. June 2018

Reference Tool

Added the instruction on how to request access to certain GAAP listserv and SharePoint sitesAdded the instruction on how to request access to PBC SharePoint site if you are an external uses (i.e. external auditors)

June 2018

Overall Changed from “Before you begin”, Added new sections June 2018Overview Removed reference to Year-End Instructions. April 2014

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