Students can no longer request SGA appropriations funds.
The individual funding policy was added to the Student Senate Standing Rules, saying SGA will only fund organizations not individuals. Student Senate passed the changes at its last meeting, March 9.
The decision came from the Senate meeting Feb. 3, when SGA heard a bill from OCU Film Guild, as well as a member seeking money for his capstone project. Alexander Knight, film production senior, belongs to the film guild, but his capstone was separate from the organization. Both requests failed.
Senate decided that the guild should have asked for funding through the allotment process, since the money was meant for a potential future event and they lacked necessary details.
“The point is to fund good organizations that have a plan,” said Taylor Brown, appropriations chairwoman.
We would like to see responsibility in the organizations through fundraising and a clear budget that states exactly where the money will go.
When the appropriations committee receives a request, they first compare the amount of money requested with the appropriations budget. Next, they determine the specific type of request and evaluate its relation to similar bills. Then, Senate notes the amount of fundraising attempted by the organization before presenting the bill. Finally, they determine whether the bill is practical and reasonable for SGA to fund.
“I was on Student Senate last year and helped pass a bill for a senior film capstone for $750,” Knight said. “SGA’s decision is understandable, considering they have had to deal with budget cuts of their own over the course of the past year, but it forces film production students to seek funding elsewhere.”
After the guild and Knight presented their bills, Senate asked if the guild would receive the funding and allot some of the money to the individual, since he was a member of the organization. The guild declined.
“We allowed consideration of the individual’s request because SGA has funded capstones in the past, though not while I have been here,” Chairwoman Brown said. “We decided further funding of individuals is inappropriate because, if we fund one person, we would have to fund everyone who asks. SGA is meant to help the student body as a whole.”
Senate also altered the reimbursement policy, revising the guidelines for how organizations submit bills to Senate.
The bill funding request form is now on the OCU SGA OrgSync page on orgsync.com. After submitting the request, Senate handles the process.
SGA encourages organizations to attend the Senate meeting discussing their bill, but attendance is no longer required. After Senate makes a decision regarding the bill, they will email the organization.
“The purpose of SGA is to assist as many students as we can,” Sophomore-At-Large Sen. Joe Wathika said. “The new funding policy will help us accomplish this goal.”
Senate also voted to require organizations to submit forms three weeks before they need funding.
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