The primary goal of the Higher Education Finance Manual project is to assist in higher education decisionmaking as it relates to the need for and the use of financial information. The objectives of this manual are to: (1) provide uniform definitions and procedures for displaying and reporting those financial data used most often in higher education decisionmaking; (2) describe formats for the display and reporting of institutional financial data that logically organize those data specifically for the needs of planning and management; (3) provide explanations of the uses and limitations of higher education financial data provided in those formats so users of the information will better understand its significance and how it can be applied. Topics covered include: the balance sheet, fund balances, understanding financial reports, fund source/use schedules, and implications for accounting systems. (Author/PG)