As any student organization that applied for funding knows, the StudentActivities Commission (SAC) began hosting interview sessions Sunday. SAC, a subdivision of the Student Senate, is the group responsible for providing funds to student organizations.
Groups in need of Winter Quarter funding picked up applications outside of
the SAC office, Baker 331, in September. SAC funds student organizations with expenses such as facilities, general materials, printing of promotional fliers and posters, production, programs, honorariums, publications and advertising. They do not cover awards or trophies, conferences, food, political campaigns or recruitment, among other costs.
The applications, SAC pacs, were due by midnight last Friday. The SAC
pacs not only serve as applications, but also outline the criteria an organization must meet to receive funding as well as the steps the organization must follow if they do meet the standards.
Everything you need to know is in the SAC pac
said Angelica Anatole,
student activities commissioner. Anything you could possibly need.
The SAC pac introduces SAC and provides a schedule for organizations to
follow. From Sept. 29 to Oct. 3, organizations were required to attend advising sessions. Applications were due Oct. 3, and audits/interviews began yesterday and last through Wednesday.
We give priority to student organizations with programs that benefit the entire university community Anatole said, noting that the SAC pac mentions that the organization must be educational, social and cultural.
During advising sessions, the organizations receive feedback from SAC in
response to their primary requests. At the audit and interview session, the Financial Affairs Committee examines each organization's financial records. They make sure that the groups that have received SAC funding in past quarters have used it appropriately, said Anatole. The committee also uses this session to show new groups how to keep SAC funding records. The interview follows the audit portion of the session. At this time, organizations explain the purpose of their existence and what programs they plan to hold.
The more they benefit the university the more we support them
said Student Senate Treasurer, Tom Bill.
The University Program Council, International Student Union and Black Student Cultural Programming Board are three organizations that do not follow SAC's quarterly funding application procedures. Instead, they receive funding annually, to cover the full school year, said Matt McKenney, UPC treasurer.
The funding we receive varies from year to year
he said. We apply in May and last year we gave a big Power Point presentation and report for SAC. We told the history of our organization
what we do
and our plans for next year
McKenney said.
On October 31, SAC will e-mail their funding decisions to all student organizations as well as post the results outside the SAC office.
Fifty-seven or 58 groups will receive funding
Bill said.
The SAC general body will vote to approve or amend the applicants' requests. Of the $474, 854 budget, $44, 222.50 is allocated for winter quarter, Bill said.
The money comes from a general student fee
he said, as part of tuition.
If an organization does not approve of SAC's decision, the group may write an appeal, due by noon Nov. 14, and also must attend a hearing.
