SGA Finance Committee

Club Treasurers: Funding applications are due on Wednesday, September 16th. Hearings will be held on Saturday, September 19th.

The Finance Committee determines the budget for SGA-approved clubs. All SGA-approved clubs are eligible for SGA funding, and the finance committee hears and deliberates on the requests of student clubs to determine their funding allocations for the academic year. The committee consists of 9 undergraduate voting members, including 3 SGA senators, 3 students-at-large, the head treasurer of the Student Organization Funds Office (SOFO), the chair of Student Activities Council Co-Sponsorship, and the Vice-President of SGA, who chairs the Committee.

If you have further questions that are not addressed here, please e-mail sgafinance@conncoll.edu, or contact your Finance Committee liaison.

For forms related to Finance Committee proceedings, visit the Finance Forms page.

FAQ:

Q: How do I request money from the Finance Committee?

Any SGA-approved student club or organization can request for funds from the Finance Committee. Go to our forms section, fill them out according to your request, and submit to sgafinance@conncoll.edu. We have two types of funding periods. Please be aware of what you are requesting (see other FAQ).

Q: How do I become an SGA approved club?

Contact the SGA Vice-President, Bobby Romanow '09, for information about the process for becoming an SGA-approved club or organization, or read the C-Book, SGA’s Constitution.

Q: What is SAC Co-Sponsorship?

SAC (Student Activities Council) has its own fund for events hosted by student and clubs here at the College, separate from the SGA Finance Committee’s budget. Any student-sponsored event can request for SAC Co-Sponsorship, which grants up to $1,000 per event. This is a great resource, and in addition to SGA funding can help to make your event a reality! Contact the Chair of SAC Co-Sponsorship to receive a request form.

Q: What can I not request from the Finance Committee?

The SGA Finance Committee does not allocate funds for:

• Alcohol
• Travel costs
• Gifts, prizes, giveaways
• Equipment that does not remain a part of the club from year to year (i.e., personalized uniforms)

All requests are subject to the discretion of the Finance Committee for allocation.

Q: What is SOFO?

The Student Organization Funds Office holds all of the accounts for student clubs. Your SGA Finance allocation will be deposited here, and it is required that you submit itemized receipts of your purchases in order to withdraw your funds from the account. The SOFO office is located on the second floor of Cro, outside of the Cro’s Nest.

Q: How do I open my club’s account with SOFO?

Once your club has been approved by SGA, you must go open an account with SOFO. The Club must register the club with the Office of Student Life, and subsequently the President or Treasurer of this club must attend a mandatory SOFO training workshop. If you missed these workshops, you can meet with the head of SOFO and schedule a personalized training so you can open your club’s account. Once these steps have been taken, your club account will be accessible at SOFO.

Q: What is Yearly Funding?

Yearly funding is the money available for all clubs to request for. It is given out during our initial allocation period in September, which covers requests for the entire academic year. Clubs are expected to have their budget for the year planned out and presented at the Yearly Funding hearing, which should occur no later than the 3rd Friday in September. In the event a new event is planned or further funding is needed, it may be requested through Specialty Funding.

Q: What is Specialty Funding?

The main allocation period occurs at the beginning of the academic year, but there is also a fund from which the Finance Committee can allocate throughout the entire year. This is similar to the main allocation period, however we do not accept requests for retroactive funding (meaning events that have occurred before funds are secured in the club’s SOFO account, and which clubs are just looking to get reimbursed for). Specialty Funding is mostly reserved for newly approved SGA clubs, or for clubs that have a new idea for an event open to the entire campus. This fund is smaller than the Yearly Funding pot, but still significant enough to fund events throughout the academic year.

Q: What is a Finance Committee Liaison?

A Finance Committee Liaison is your personal link to the Finance Committee and its process. Every club is assigned to a specific liaison who, throughout each academic year, will provide support, answer questions and help a club through the finance process. If you are unsure of whom your liaison is, e-mail sgafinance@conncoll.edu. New clubs will be assigned a liaison by the SGA Vice-President.

Q: What is the difference between an “active” and an “inactive club”?

“Active” club status is determined by the club’s usage of SOFO within the previous three consecutive semesters. All clubs that do not meet these criteria will be considered “inactive”. In order for an “inactive” club to request funding, it will need to present and be re-approved by the SGA Assembly.

Q: What if I think my club’s allocation was unfair? What is the appeals process?

Should a club believe that its respective allocation threatens its continued existence on campus, or that it was unfairly allocated because of biases on the FC, it may appeal its allocation to the Director of Student Activities. A club may submit a formal appeal in the form of a letter to the Director of Student Activities, who will set up a meeting with the club’s treasurer and president.

Last Modified: Monday, August 31, 2009 12:38