Student organizations looking to receive funding from ASUI have until Nov. 6 at noon to turn in their applications to the ASUI Funding Board.
But before applying, students must complete a required training.
“I think everyone should be involved,” said Funding Board Chair Claire Holcombe.
While Holcombe said the training has been an in-person meeting in past years, this year it is a set of videos on the university web page.
Holcombe said the board moved to videos to make the training cheaper and more convenient for staff and students. She said the videos cover the bylaws, rules, requirements and limitations of funding.
She said the switch was ASUI President Max Cowan”s idea.
“It”s more convenient online than meeting at a specific time and date,” he said.
Holcombe said that in part, the training lets students know what they are even eligible for.
“We don”t want people to be disappointed if they go through the application process only to find out they are not eligible,” she said.
She said the board is not allowed to pay for food that is not through Sodexo.
Holcombe said the rest of the training explains how students need to pre-register purchases before they make them, and how they need to keep track of receipts.
Cowan said the new format is not only more convenient, but more effective.
“Student organizations consistently have questions and are quite likely to forget what they”ve learned,” he said.
Cowan said in this way, it acts like an FAQ page, answering questions preemptively.
Holcombe said the online training does not limit students” access to help and information. She said funding board staff members are still available to answer any questions students might have about any stage of the funding process.
Holcombe said she is passionate about making this process easier because student organizations are so important and help people accomplish personal goals.
“I think it”s good to get out of your routine,” she said. “Having something you enjoy outside of school is really important.”
She said the board has a total of $64,000 available to students and that each organization can apply for up to $2,000.
Nishant Mohan can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter @NishantRMohan