The United Student Government (USG) talked numbers Monday when discussing levels of success for the previous and current funding periods.
Ken Middlemiss, Assistant Coordinator of Student Involvement, distributed information about the money spent since the beginning of the fall 2014 semester, explaining the progress they have made in the concept of pushing clubs to spend their allocated budget.
Middlemiss stated that the fall semester’s first funding period only had clubs spending a total of 58 percent of the allocated budget, but during the second period, that number rose to 95 percent.
“I attribute that to myself and Thad [Covaleski] getting on the same page,” Middlemiss said. “When I came in to USG, it was a lot to learn everything, but in the second funding period in the fall, we were really able to get on clubs to spend their budgets. A 95 percent spend rate is awesome for clubs and organizations on this campus.”
The spring’s first funding period distributed a total of $21,981, and around 74 percent of that budget was spent. The second period is still in progress, so there was no accurate number on how and where clubs were spending so far.
After looking at an overview of overall funding through the school year, Middlemiss explained to members specifically where this money was going. Around 12 percent, $9,547, was spent for club parties that were not necessarily directed toward the different clubs’ mission statements. Consisting of almost half of this year’s budget as a whole was what is considered as club-centric events. These are clubs’ activities that are specifically directed to accomplish goals stated in their mission statements established at the approval of a club or at the beginning of a funding period.
What surprised Middlemiss the most was the amount spent on transportation. Travel to and from events totaled $18, 942, or 35 percent of the total budget.
“This transportation is everything from when Rugby Club gets their shuttle to their games all the way to Confluence’s [transportation] to different conference conventions,” Middlemiss said.
The remaining 15 percent was spent between clothing and apparel and printing costs for advertisements.
Associate Vice President of Student Affairs and Dean of Students Keith Paylo addressed the request to take a look at carryover funds, or the money that could be left over from year to year, and where this money is going.
“I just want to give you an update that is being looked at, and we should hopefully have an answer by the end of this semester,” Paylo said. “I will continue to keep you up to date. The good news is they [administration] are looking into it very seriously.”
As the semester comes to a close, new clubs continue to ask USG for approval. Pre-med Club and Hispanic Heritage Club got approved Monday, and representatives from both were present.
“We want to represent each of our board member’s heritage. We experience this not only through heritage but through food and music, so that is mostly what we will try to achieve,” said the club’s representative Alejandro Pastor.
With USG’s approval, these clubs are set to request money for the fall 2015 first funding period.
