Clubs and organizations applying for funding from the Student Government Association can expect to see a zero percent increase from their funding from last year. Budgeting for the 2014-2015 academic year is currently in the planning stages for all clubs and organizations. SGA offered optional budgeting workshops for anyone interested during common hour the second week of spring semester classes. The workshops were hosted to clear up any questions about budgeting from groups.
“I think a lot of the confusion happens because students graduate. It’s just kind of like starting from scratch. No one knows what’s going on. So we’re trying to push that you bring your advisor or someone who may be on your exec. board next year that could really transfer the information from this year to next year’s exec. board,” Abby Schon, Vice President of Financial Affairs, said.
“Currently we’re working on doing one-on-ones,” Schon said, “This is mandatory. So if you want a budget and you’re a recognized club by SGA you need to have a one-on-one or you’ll have a five percent decrease in your budget.”
Schon suggested students have an idea of what they want in their budget for the year and a copy of the previous year’s budget in preparation for the one-on-one sessions. A sign-up sheet is posted outside the SGA office and meetings can be scheduled until Feb. 14. Copies of a club’s budget from the previous year can be obtained in Cooperative Activities office on the first floor of the Robert M. Smith Student Center.
Funding from SGA can include activities your club/organization puts on for the whole student body, fees (speaker fees, artist fees), honorariums, supplies, advertising (duplicating, Rocket ads, printing, etc.), club sports (league fees and dues, official fees, space rental), equipment, transportation costs (mileage) and lodging for performers, conference fees, and transportation.
“We’ve also been looking at things such as the SGA scholarship, the student conference grant, and different things that can help students,” Schon said.
“We have a conference grant for all students and you just fill out the application and we have $5,000 in this grant.” The conference grant was approved Nov. 2012.
According to Schon, only one group applied for the grant during the fall semester. The deadline for spring semester applications was Jan. 31 and four groups responded. However, there are still funds available so SGA is willing to take any future applications throughout the semester until the funds are gone. There are some stipulations to qualifying for the grant.
“It cannot be a mandatory conference that you have to go to each and every year. We want it to be like ‘Oh you’re recognized for something special’ or ‘you’re going to learn more’,” Schon said. The application for the conference grant can be found on the SGA website.
The finance committee meets Thursdays at 5 p.m. in the SGA office and any student is welcome to come. “The finance committee basically will sit and review different clubs and organizations funding policies, funding requests and they review for new club and organization submissions,” Schon explained.
