UA to distribute RSO funding
Bailey McBride
Issue date: 1/26/09 Section: News
The applications for the second round of Registered Student Organization funding are out, and groups across campus are eligible to apply for part of the almost $25,000 still available for this spring semester.
"This round typically has a smaller turnout of organizations participating in the process, but because there is a substantial amount of money that has been swept back, we hope that RSOs will turn out to apply for it," said Lyndsay Manz, RSO program coordinator.
The funds, close to $300,000 a year, are appropriated by the Associated Student Government three times a year and come from the 69 cent a credit hour ASG fee paid by all UA students.
"There's a lot of money left over," Manz said.
Organizations may request level one funding (less than $1,000), level two funding ($1,000 to $5,000) or level three funding ($5,000 or more). There is no set limit on what can be requested, but RSOs must be able to substantiate any request and be prepared to attend an interview to explain any budgetary needs more than $1,000.
"After each interview, we like to look at each budget individually," ASG Treasurer Ben Hale said. "We'll make initial cuts then, and then at the end we go back through all the budgets collectively and make final cuts, then appropriate funds."
These budgets will go before the ASG appropriations committee, which is comprised of around 10 ASG members.
Organizations that want to apply for funding must attend one of the mandatory 4 p.m. meetings either Wednesday, Jan. 28, or Thursday, Jan. 29.
Detailed final budgets are due to the ASG office by noon Tuesday, Feb. 3. RSOs may seek funding for things that fall into the following three categories: conferences and registration, administrative expenses and programming, or events.
There is typically around a 15 percent return of funds on what is allocated, either because of groups asking for more than their events ended up costing or canceling events, Manz said. This has left around $25,000 from the allocations from spring 2008.
"This is the RSOs' second chance for funding this semester," Manz said. "This money will have to be for the spring and can only go to new requests for additional funding."
Groups that requested money and were denied cannot ask for funding for the same programs and events again.
RSO appropriations consist of about 80 percent of the ASG budget. Students seeking more information regarding the allocation process may access application and meeting information on the ASG Web site or in the ASG office on the sixth floor of the Arkansas Union.
"This round typically has a smaller turnout of organizations participating in the process, but because there is a substantial amount of money that has been swept back, we hope that RSOs will turn out to apply for it," said Lyndsay Manz, RSO program coordinator.
The funds, close to $300,000 a year, are appropriated by the Associated Student Government three times a year and come from the 69 cent a credit hour ASG fee paid by all UA students.
"There's a lot of money left over," Manz said.
Organizations may request level one funding (less than $1,000), level two funding ($1,000 to $5,000) or level three funding ($5,000 or more). There is no set limit on what can be requested, but RSOs must be able to substantiate any request and be prepared to attend an interview to explain any budgetary needs more than $1,000.
"After each interview, we like to look at each budget individually," ASG Treasurer Ben Hale said. "We'll make initial cuts then, and then at the end we go back through all the budgets collectively and make final cuts, then appropriate funds."
These budgets will go before the ASG appropriations committee, which is comprised of around 10 ASG members.
Organizations that want to apply for funding must attend one of the mandatory 4 p.m. meetings either Wednesday, Jan. 28, or Thursday, Jan. 29.
Detailed final budgets are due to the ASG office by noon Tuesday, Feb. 3. RSOs may seek funding for things that fall into the following three categories: conferences and registration, administrative expenses and programming, or events.
There is typically around a 15 percent return of funds on what is allocated, either because of groups asking for more than their events ended up costing or canceling events, Manz said. This has left around $25,000 from the allocations from spring 2008.
"This is the RSOs' second chance for funding this semester," Manz said. "This money will have to be for the spring and can only go to new requests for additional funding."
Groups that requested money and were denied cannot ask for funding for the same programs and events again.
RSO appropriations consist of about 80 percent of the ASG budget. Students seeking more information regarding the allocation process may access application and meeting information on the ASG Web site or in the ASG office on the sixth floor of the Arkansas Union.
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