Guidelines for Finance Allocations
 
The following is an excerpt from the Finance Codes outlining the criteria for allocation of student activity fees:
 
320.40 Criteria for Allocating Student Activity Fees
 
A: Size of Organization
1. The number of students being served by the group’s activities to estimate costs and expenses.
2. The number of students participating in the organization itself to estimate costs and expenses.
B: Activities and Events
1. The number and scope of services provided in order to estimate costs and expenses.
2. The estimated costs and expenses of the service provided or the event to be held. Participation must be open to all students
C: Economical Use of Allocated Funds
            1. Economical use of funds.
  
 
The following is an excerpt from the Finance Codes outlining the appropriate uses of allocations for student organizations:
 
390.10 Funding from Student Organizations Funds
 
  • Monies shall be appropriated to Registered Student Organizations under two categories: programming and conferences.
    1. Programming budgets include monies for any events or other social, recreational, or educational programs. Any programs paid for completely or in part by SG funds must be open to participation by all University of South Carolina students.  On campus retreats are classified as programs. Off-Campus Retreats set within a 12 mile radius of campus will be classified as programs if the Finance Committee is given good cause for the Off-Campus location of the retreat.
    2. Conference budgets may be allocated for any costs associated with conferences. Travel costs and other expenditures for conferences will be the last item considered in the budget process. No more than 50% will be funded for two members of a respective organization. Requests for conference allocations must include current conference registration forms and conference information (brochures). Off-Campus Retreats set outside of a 12 mile radius of campus will be classified as conferences.
 
 
The following are excerpts of the guidelines for allocations as found in the Finance Codes.
 
390.35  Prohibited Uses of Student Funds
 
Student Activity Fees shall not be used:
 
A. to purchase alcoholic beverages;
B. to fund academic journals;
C. for any type of donations;
D. as cash rewards/gift cards;
E. by an organization for investment purposes;
F. to pay for individual memberships or private lessons;
G. as contributions to charitable organizations in any form or manner.  An organization may sponsor a fund raising event for the purpose of raising money for contributions.  It must be clearly understood that only net profits may be used for contributions.  Net profits are the monies left after all direct expenses involved with the fund raising event have been paid; or
H. for hooding or graduation ceremonies.
 
 
390.40  Restrictions on Uses of Student Funds
 
Funding for the following expenditure areas shall be limited as follows:
  1. Food for regularly scheduled meetings shall not be funded.  Exceptions must be presented to the Finance Committee and brought forth by the Student Body Treasurer as requested by the Student Organization.
  2. Clothing purchases shall not be funded.
  3. Funds from budgets approved by the Student Senate for salaries to professional staff, graduate assistants, or clerical staff must be submitted to the Senate Finance Committee.  This request must be approved by the Senate Finance Committee and passed in the form of a Finance Bill by the Student Senate.  Only upon the passage of the bill may a salary, as described above, be incorporated into an organization budget submission.
  4. In the event that a tip is warranted or necessary, a maximum of twenty percent of the total bill may be spent by the university organization. The money for the tip must be available in their budget. If the tip exceeds the twenty percent maximum, the student organization shall be responsible for the excess. 
 
In addition to these guidelines within our codes, historically, the Finance Committee creates a list of guidelines to follow during the allocation period.  The following is the list of guidelines created by the Senate Finance Committee of the 103rd Senate:
  1. Organizations will not be granted money to rent venues within the Russell House Student Union in regards to the availability of the Russell House $5000.
  2. Organizations will be allotted no more than $4 per a meal per a person for events.
  3. Organizations will be granted $0.465 per a mile of travel for gas.
  4. Only 100% of one person or 50% of two persons will be allocated to organizations that request funding for conferences.  Conferences must benefit a large portion of the student body.
  5. End of the year parties will not be funded.
 

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