$tudent Fees: This year $246,000 was dispersed among 44 clubs and organizations
Steven Stubbs
Issue date: 3/10/09 Section: News
A substantial amount of the fees-$17,950-is given in scholarships for student leaders of the Student Government Association (SGA), CAB, and several other organizations on campus. The amount of each scholarship varies with each position, however they are all given on a semester-by-semester basis.
"Most of the time the clubs that do not get as much money, just do not ever ask for it," Hughes said.
THE PROCESS
This year, many clubs and organizations saw sizeable cuts to their budgets, although they were allowed to appeal to have these funds returned on a case-by-case basis. The process caused both confusion and ill will, resulting in some faculty and student participants choosing to cease their involvement with ABAC student activities.
To appeal for the return of these funds or to request new funding, clubs are required to fill out and submit a request form online. The online forms are then examined by the Student Activity Budget Committee, and judged depending on relevance to the college community.
Even if the committee gives the approval, the money is still closely monitored.
"Clubs are required to tell us exactly what they are using the money for," Hughes said. "They also have to send us back reports and receipts so that we can be sure they are using the money on what they said they would."
Next year this process will expand. If a request is less than $500, then it will follow the current process. However, if a club requests an amount $500 or more, or comes from two sources, then the request will first go to the presidential cabinet, which will include the SGA. After the cabinet reviews the request it will then be sent to the Vice President of Fiscal Affairs, the Vice President of Student Affairs, and to the ABAC Foundation.
Finally, the request will return back to the Student Activity Budget Committee for final approval.
Many clubs also choose to raise additional funds for events through fund-raisers or donations.
"A lot of the fund raisers that clubs are attempting just are not going very well thanks to the economy," Bernice Hughes, Director of Student Housing, said. "People just do not really have that extra money to spend."
The activity fees are kept in a separate account and is used only for student benefit. If at the end of the year if there is a surplus, this rolls over into a contingency fund and a reserve set aside for the next year.
Bridges ensures that all student fee records are open to the public and any student may request a full copy from the Office of Student Affairs in the J. Lamar Branch Student Center.
"Most of the time the clubs that do not get as much money, just do not ever ask for it," Hughes said.
THE PROCESS
This year, many clubs and organizations saw sizeable cuts to their budgets, although they were allowed to appeal to have these funds returned on a case-by-case basis. The process caused both confusion and ill will, resulting in some faculty and student participants choosing to cease their involvement with ABAC student activities.
To appeal for the return of these funds or to request new funding, clubs are required to fill out and submit a request form online. The online forms are then examined by the Student Activity Budget Committee, and judged depending on relevance to the college community.
Even if the committee gives the approval, the money is still closely monitored.
"Clubs are required to tell us exactly what they are using the money for," Hughes said. "They also have to send us back reports and receipts so that we can be sure they are using the money on what they said they would."
Next year this process will expand. If a request is less than $500, then it will follow the current process. However, if a club requests an amount $500 or more, or comes from two sources, then the request will first go to the presidential cabinet, which will include the SGA. After the cabinet reviews the request it will then be sent to the Vice President of Fiscal Affairs, the Vice President of Student Affairs, and to the ABAC Foundation.
Finally, the request will return back to the Student Activity Budget Committee for final approval.
Many clubs also choose to raise additional funds for events through fund-raisers or donations.
"A lot of the fund raisers that clubs are attempting just are not going very well thanks to the economy," Bernice Hughes, Director of Student Housing, said. "People just do not really have that extra money to spend."
The activity fees are kept in a separate account and is used only for student benefit. If at the end of the year if there is a surplus, this rolls over into a contingency fund and a reserve set aside for the next year.
Bridges ensures that all student fee records are open to the public and any student may request a full copy from the Office of Student Affairs in the J. Lamar Branch Student Center.
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