Student organizations that expect money from ASUU next year need to act now.
This year, more than 200 clubs and organizations shared $134,555. A similar amount should be budgeted for student use next year. Groups that want some of this funding need to turn in a budget request form by March 15.
Because of the long Olympic break, the Associated Students of the University of Utah Finance Board has begun its budgeting process for next year earlier than usual. Redbook mandates that the finance board send out letters to the registered clubs and organizations telling them how to receive funding no later than the first Friday of February.
Although the mandated date is a few weeks away, ASUU is sending the letters out now. The request form deadline is March 15, as the latest date Redbook allows.
Letters going out to the clubs and organizations include a budget request form, information on how to request funding and the times and places of workshops for students to learn about funding.
The workshops and consultations will begin March 5. Students can meet with members of the Finance Board to make sure their budget requests fit the criteria to get all of the funding each group needs.
In order to receive funding, a student group must be registered 30 days prior to the deadline. They also must fill out a budget request form detailing specific expenditures the group needs monies for.
Groups can receive up to $3,500 of ASUU funds, and according to Ryan Wilson, who recently became the finance board director, they usually receive that much money.
“In the past they have,” he said. “It depends on what the money is requested for.”
Groups that do not get money through the regular budgeting process or need more than $3,500 to function can request money through the General Assembly. The Assembly’s contingency fund was budgeted at $34,000 this year, but legislation later added $25,000 to the fund. All of this money is budgeted to the student groups through the legislative process.
ASUU typically begins the budgeting process for the next year before the elections because it is such a lengthy procedure. The budget must be approved by the Senate, Assembly, the University Joint Apportionment Board and the Board of Trustees.
“They don’t have time,” said Ben Lowe, ASUU president, explaining why the budgeting process begins before the election of next year’s administration. “We basically have it ready for them.”
Lowe said the incoming ASUU officials will have an opportunity to review the budget and make changes they deems appropriate, although he does not know how much time they will have.
“This year it’s going to be different because the elections are later,” Lowe said. “We were very involved in the process last year.”
Wilson began acting as finance board chairman last week after the resignation of David Broadbent, who occupied the position last semester. Wilson was the associate director of the finance board last semester and currently chairs the University Joint Apportionment Board.