By the University of Colorado Student Government
The CUSG Legislative Council will soon hear the second reading of a proposal that could affect the way student fees are allocated to student groups. The current Student Group Funding Board Code allows student groups to request and receive up to $20,000 per academic year for operational expenses. During the 2014-15 fiscal year, student groups received approximately $800,000 in student fee allocations 鈥� more than three times the amount allocated in annual student fee funds.
鈥淚t鈥檚 important that we keep annual funding of student groups in line with what is allocated on an annual basis,鈥� said Madalena DeAndrea, the new chair of the Student Group Funding Board (SGFB). 鈥淏oard reserve funds have covered increased student group funding over the past two years, but that model is simply not sustainable.鈥�
Last spring, Deb Coffin, then vice chancellor for student affairs, informed CUSG鈥檚 Finance Board and Legislative Council of her decision to suspend any new SGFB funding for the remainder of the 2015 spring semester. This allowed time for a committee of students and university staff to review SGFB鈥檚 finances and operating protocol.
The committee members 鈥� Haelena Bondi-Camacho, Finance Board; Jesse Van Divier, SGFB; Leila McCamey, deputy campus controller; April Ollivier, CUSG Administrative Staff and E. Maia Andreasen, Student Affairs director of budget and operations 鈥� reviewed future funding streams and compared CUSG鈥檚 policies to those of student governments at peer universities. They were also charged to recommend a model that would fund student organizations at sustainable rates comparable to similar instiututions in the Pac-12 Conference and others around the country.
The committee found that a maximum annual funding amount of $3,000 per club was sustainable and more in line with the practices of other peer institutions. Therefore, SGFB and the review committee are recommending that Legislative Council amend SGFB Code to reflect a maximum annual allocation per club of $3,000. If adopted, this should not have an impact on nearly half of the campus clubs that requested and received funding of $3,000 or less last year.
鈥淏ut we appreciate this could impact some larger clubs that have received more than $3,000 on an annual basis,鈥� DeAndrea said. 鈥淲e want to hear feedback from these clubs and also talk to them about fundraising or other ways they can fund their activities.鈥� 听
The Legislative Council will officially hear the second reading of this proposal at its July 16 meeting at 7 p.m. in the UMC room 247, with possible adoption.
If you have any questions, please contact custudentgov@gmail.com.