USAC plans to promote SOOF funding to student groups

Members of the undergraduate student government plan on educating student groups about the funding available to them by launching a campaign that will be spearheaded by the Internal Vice President’s office.

The purpose of the campaign is to promote the Undergraduate Students Association Council’s typically underused funding sources throughout the year, said Avi Oved, USAC internal vice president.

Oved said his office plans to focus on alerting students to the Student Organizations Operational Fund, commonly known as SOOF.

The first deadline to apply for funding from SOOF is Oct. 4 at 5 p.m.

Funding from SOOF is available to all registered student groups that apply for it. The fund is gathered from student fees and what’s left over from the council’s total fund after allocations for administrative purposes.

Student organizations can apply for up to $3,000 in funding from SOOF for supplies, advertising, retreats and staff stipends..

There are more than 1,000 student groups at UCLA, but only about 75 groups apply for general funding from USAC consistently, Oved said.

The Internal Vice President’s office plans to educate student groups about SOOF beginning at the Enormous Activities Fair on Sept. 23.

Members of Oved’s office will be present to talk to students about access to funding, Oved said.

Student liaisons working through the Internal Vice President’s office plan to meet with student group leaders to continue the dialogue throughout the year.

“We want to make sure they’re not in danger of missing the deadline and want to outreach to groups that don’t often apply,” Oved said.

USAC Finance Committee Chair Cynthia Jasso said students can apply for SOOF online through the USAC website, where they must fill out several documents, including a questionnaire. Student groups must also upload documentation to the site to complete the process.

Jasso said 50 percent of available funding has gone unclaimed by student groups over the past two years.

In 2012, about $109,310 was available. This year, about $107,000 is projected to be available, according to Jasso.

“There is a lack of communication between funding directors and student groups on how they can use their money,” Jasso said.

Jasso said some student organizations that receive funding from SOOF do not spend the money they get, adding to the problem of underused resources.

“(The campaign is) a great idea. I just wish it becomes a long-term campaign. Students are transitory,” she said. “The problem is how will we sustain this after (this year).”

John Tsiang, health fair co-director of the Asian Pacific Health Corps, said he was not aware of the surplus in available funds over the past few years.

Tsiang said the Asian Pacific Health Corps uses USAC’s SOOF funding to buy medical supplies so they can operate in underserved communities around Los Angeles.