Student Governing Council Guidelines for Non-Food Funding
Passed November 2, 2000; Amended October 3, 2002
Proposed by Brendan Rice, SGC Treasurer

1) The Student Governing Council provides a "non-food fund" each semester to registered student organizations. The total amount of this fund is submitted by the SGC Treasurer and Executive Committee and voted upon by the SGC General Council.

2) The purpose of the non-food fund is to provide monetary support to student organizations that have larger programs or activities than cannot be covered by the general food budget. Guidelines for qualifying groups include:

a) Groups must be registered student organizations.

b) Projects supported by this fund should not include food expenses.

c) Groups may not use the non-food fund to send delegates on trips.

d) Preference should be given to projects that have the potential to benefit the life of all students from the four schools; preference should also be given to events which are open to all students and are not cost-prohibited, as decided by the General Council.

e) Preference should be given to groups that provide detailed expense summaries or multiple bids (in the case of supplies).

f) The event or supplies sponsored by the non-food fund should take place or be purchased the same semester in which money is allocated. Exceptions may be made at the discretion of the Executive Committee.

3) All organizations interested in receiving SGC non-food funding must submit a "Non-Food Fund Request" form to the SGC Treasurer five working days prior to the SGC meeting in which they wish to request funds. On the last day to submit, the form must be submitted by 5pm.

4) Voting on the non-food fund should take place during the first and/or second SGC meetings of each semester unless otherwise decided by the Executive Committee.

5) Organizations requesting funds should send a representative to speak about the request at the SGC general meeting. Groups failing to send a representative should be disqualified from receiving funds.

6) Approval for funding shall be decided by a vote of Student Senators from the four schools as determined by the voting procedures in the SGC Bylaws. The budget may be split between groups or given to one group at the discretion of the Student Senators; not all of the budget must be used in a semester.

7) If approved, funds may be allocated to a student group any of three ways:

a) Students may provide the SGC Treasurer with receipts for reimbursement on the same date(s) designated for turning in food funding receipts.

b) Students may provide the SGC Treasurer with invoice(s) for the approved expense, and the Treasurer will directly pay the bill(s).

c) If an invoice is not available before the purchase and the expense is greater than $200, the Treasurer may provide a check to the group before the purchase is made providing the following two guidelines are met:

1. The group must clearly state the amount requested at the SGC meeting, and this amount must appear in the Minutes for that meeting.

2. A receipt should be provided to the SGC Treasurer once the purchase has been made along with any unused funds. Failure to do so should exempt a group from further funding, food or non-food, until the matter is settled.

8) Any additional funds that remain during the allotted semester will be rolled over into the following semester's non-food budget. Funds remaining at the end of the spring semester will be placed in the SGC General Fund for the next fiscal year.