Every company and organization has a busy time of year. For airports, it’s November, and the Student Government Association at FHSU, it is the months of February and March. Which means we are officially in allocations season! If you’ve been around campus lately, you have likely heard talk about allocations, but may not know what it is.
What are allocations? Allocations is a budget that is comprised of funds collected by student fees.
What is the purpose of allocations? To provide funding for predetermined events and trips for organizations for the next fiscal year.
In other words, student organizations and clubs who are registered on Tiger Link can submit an application asking for a certain amount of money from the university. Things that can be requested in allocations include trips, speakers, honorariums and other necessities. Organizations that wish to apply for allocations must have their hard-copy form submitted by Friday, February 5th at 4:30 in the SGA office located in the lower level of the Memorial Union.
The next step in the process is the Budget Hearing. This is a hearing facilitated by the Allocations Committee of SGA. Each organization will be asked to send one member to attend the hearing to plead their case as well as answering any questions the committee may have about the organization’s request.
After the Budget Hearing comes the First Reading. This is not a mandatory event for the organization members to attend, but it is encouraged so that organizations can defend their original request and have a chance to testify in front of the senate. This is the last opportunity to appeal to the senate. The First Reading will be held on Thursday, March 3rd at 7:00 pm in the Black and Gold Room.
The last step in the process of Allocations is the Second Reading. This is a mandatory meeting for all student organizations, so they must send at least 1 student representative from each organization. Attendance is taken periodically so there must be one representative for the entire process of the Second Reading. Failure to attend the Second Reading and failure to not be present at all attendance calls will result in that organization being zero funded (absolutely no money will be allocated to that group). The Second Reading takes place Thursday, March 10th at 7:00 pm in the MU Ballroom, and can last several hours.
“Allocations is an important tool for student organizations and waiver groups. It is so vital because we want our students to be able to be active groups on campus, and around the world and allocations is a way for them to participate in local, national, and international programs,” says SGA senator, Stephany Gress.
To learn even more about Allocations, you can go to www.fhsustudents.org as well as going there to find the documents needed for organizations to apply.