ASUA is changing its fund-allocating processes for clubs after having trouble ensuring all money for clubs was allocated, and is on track to do that by the end of the year.
Jordan Allison, the executive vice president of the Associated Students of the University of Arizona, said over the years ASUA has been able to increase club funding from $225,000 to $250,000, allowing more opportunities for student organizations to achieve their goals.
ASUA club funding allows different clubs to reach their goals and creates opportunities for them that they would not be able to have otherwise. Clubs can get money for events, T-shirts, competitions, equipment, renting rooms and anything else they need that will benefit them and increase their success.
A lot of the money given is for travel, so when clubs go on trips, they will be reimbursed for the event when they come back.
ASUA allocated over $250,000 to clubs and organizations this year and it boasts over 550 student clubs on campus, ranging from Greek organizations to the UA Harry Potter Alliance.
Clubs can get money for what they need by filling out a form, and every Monday the ASUA Appropriations Board meets to go over the requests to see what can be funded and what is beneficial for the club.
According to Allison, this is an opportunity for clubs to do things they could not do if they did not have the funding.
“I’m really happy that we are able to provide that service to students so that they can get that real world experience and really exercise their passions for what they do,” Allison said.
Allison said it is amazing for her to see the requests that come through, such as conferences in different states, doing service events and even traveling to foreign countries to provide medical services to people there.
ASUA Sen. Ellen Dunn said that having club funding through the ASUA Appropriations Board encourages more student involvement and allows for opportunities without having to pay out of pocket.
Each year, new clubs get added to the list and UA organizations grow, so there are always new club requests.
“My favorite part of club funding, though, is seeing the unique requests from really passionate clubs because it just exemplifies the diversity of this campus and how everyone has a chance to get involved and discover their interests,” Dunn said.
The ASUA Appropriations Board is run by student directors, Dunn said, and is beneficial to students because they are the ones who make the funding decisions; it allows students to work together and increase club involvement.
Issac Ortega, ASUA president, said this funding allows clubs to experience opportunities, such as traveling to go accept national awards, researching, networking with people in New York and competing in competitions around the country while representing the UA.
“We want to make sure every single dollar is given to clubs as much as we possibly can,” Ortega said.
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