Funding and Budgets

Once you are a registered student group you are able to apply for funding. Money for student groups comes from student fees collected through tuition. To apply for funding your group needs to fill out a Budget Request form which can be found in the shelves of forms located in the lobby of SMSU M113. If you wish to be funded you MUST fill out this form when you are first registering to be an SOC student group. SOC accepts applications from new student groups at the beginning of each term (see calendar for dates of orientation and budget due dates.) Once the form is filled out, it must be turned into the SALP office by the posted due date.

The SOC Budget Committee, a group of elected students, is responsible for allocating funds to groups. When they make their decision, you will be notified by email. A list of allocations is also posted on the door of the SOC office. Groups can access their funds by filling out the Expenditure Request. Fill out an Expenditure Request Form and drop it off at the SALP office each time you wish to use money for your group. Turn in all expenditure requests at LEAST two weeks prior to your event to ensure your funding needs are met on time. This form can be confusing to figure out so we recommend talking to your advisor if you need help filling it out. Reimbursements take along time and are not guaranteed so we recommend that groups chose a payment method on the form other than reimbursements.

What are Budget Caps and Levels?

Budget caps represent the max amount of money that can be allocated to student groups per year. For instance if you group was allocated $500 dollars at the beginning of the fall, you will be able to use this money up until the end of spring term of this year. If your group wishes to continue activity and funding in the summer time, you must register and go to orientation in order to be eligible for a summer term budget.

Budget levels determine the budget caps of each group. Currently there are 3 levels that SOC student groups are placed into based on the length of time they have been a SOC group. Listed below are the current caps and levels for SOC student groups fall of 2006.

How Do I know What Level My Group is?

Level 1 groups are either brand new or have been around for one term.

Level 2 groups have been around for more than 1 term but no longer than two terms.

Level 3 groups have been around for three terms or longer.

Caps of SOC groups Fall of 2006.

Level 1 -New groups and groups that started this summer registration Cap is $500.

Level 2 - Started in spring or Winter of 2006 Cap is $700.

Level 3 - Have been a group since Fall 2005 Cap is $900.

Note that each year caps and levels are subject to change each new academic year depending on how much money SOC is allocated by the University.

SFC (Student Fee Committee) Groups

Once your group has been registered as an SOC group and active for one year you can apply to become a SFC group. SFC groups are funded at a higher cap than SOC groups are, but also have more restrictions than SOC groups. For instance, SOC groups are allowed to have a separate account for money they receive from outside sources (NOT allocated funds from the university) to use as they wish. SFC groups are not allowed to have funding from any source other than the university.