The undergraduate student government voted Tuesday night to approve changes to its student group programming funding system, beginning next fall.
As of the 2012-2013 academic year, the Undergraduate Students Association Council will not allot more than 33 percent of its contingency programming budget in fall quarter until the amount of surplus funds for the year is finalized.
The guideline change is to show the Associated Students UCLA Finance Committee ““ a subcommittee of the ASUCLA Board of Directors ““ that the council has long-term solutions for the current shortage of programming funds, said Emily Resnick, president of USAC.
The shortage stems from the overallocation of funds for student groups at the beginning of fall quarter before the council knew of this year’s low surplus projection.
The council has asked for a one-time $100,000 contribution from the ASUCLA Board of Directors. They say the amount is necessary to keep student programming afloat for the rest of the academic year. Representatives from USAC will meet to present their request to the ASUCLA Finance Committee on Friday.
The council also temporarily suspended a section of its bylaws at Tuesday’s meeting based on the funding shortfall.
Read the language below from Article VI, Section C:
“If the amount of funding available for allocation is less than $10,000, notice both prior to and after the allocation is required by one or more of the following:
a. Flyer(s) on Bulletin Board(s)
b. Flyers to Group or Office Mailbox
c. E-mail to all officially registered student organizations
d. Ad in the Daily Bruin
e. Ad(s) in the Quarterly Newsmagazines (when publication
dates permit)
f. USA Web site”
The section refers to the past course of action if funds for student programming dropped below $10,000. Through a variety of campus communications channels, USAC had to let student groups know before and after they applied for the money.
By suspending the bylaw, USAC will not have to tell student groups about low levels of programming funds until surplus money is known. At this point, the funding level is expected to rise in upcoming weeks.
The council will vote to approve the final amount of surplus funds before the money is added to the current budget next week.
Compiled by Melissa Truong and Jillian Beck, Bruin contributors.