Student groups learn ins and outs of funding

It's hard to get money from the University. It takes proposals, requisition forms and bureaucratic maneuvering -- and that's after a group has been guaranteed money from the Student Activities Council, the Graduate Student Activities Council or the administration. But after tonight, the process may seem easier for student leaders who will attend an Office of Student Life training session on how to work the University's checkbook. "We noticed there's a lot of misunderstanding of some of the University's operating procedures and some things that student organizations need to consider when utilizing funding," said Albert Moore, assistant director of student life activities. "With this program, everyone can get together to hear the same story from the same source." Tonight's program, which is mandatory for all University-funded groups, will be split into five sections -- a review of risk management, University financial procedures, scheduling policies, contracts and publicity regulations. Each lecture focuses on an aspect of the University's bureaucracy that student groups face in order to get funding and assistance from the administration. "Basically, we give these guys binders and binders of stuff about it," Student Activities Council Chairperson Dave Wessels said last night. "If someone's explaining this stuff, hopefully they'll be able to understand it better and a lot of groups that might be doing something they shouldn't be won't." Moore said he expects about 200 students to participate in the program. If SAC- or University-funded organizations do not send a representative, the group will not receive any money this year. Moore said this is to ensure that groups understand the procedures before they attempt to get money from SAC. Wessels said he thinks tonight's program will help student groups wade through financial difficulties, adding that it will also serve as a network for student leaders to understand how other organizations work. "It's a good opportunity for some of my groups to meet other student government organizations," Wessels said. "I don't know how much of campus really knows who these people are, and communication is really essential." Wessels said if groups do not show up tonight, it will probably mean SAC Steering will have to petition the University to fund them this year.

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