Operations Fund for All Organizations

Every student organization officially registered with the Law School will automatically receive a  $200 allocation for use as a general operations fund in each semester.  This discretionary allocation may be used for expenses related to organizational meetings, supplies, postage, or to help offset minor cost overruns for organization events.  Each student organization has discretion with regard to how these funds will be spent, subject to the restrictions below.  This list is not exclusive or inflexible.  The SBA reserves the right to amend, alter, delete or supplement any or all of these restrictions at its discretion. Please address any questions to the SBA Treasurer.

The following restrictions will apply to the expenditure of discretionary allocations:

  • The event must be open to the entire student body.
  • The event must be advertised on campus or via email.
  • No funds can be used for private parties or private social events.
  • No funds can be used for events for only the officers of an organization.
  • The event must be on campus unless the group has received prior SBA approval to hold an off campus event.
  • The funds cannot be used to print newsletters or stationery for the organization’s use
  • The funds cannot be used to make charitable or political donations.

Unbudgeted expenditures exceeding the allocation will not be reimbursed.  To receive reimbursement, vouchers must be completed and submitted to the SBA Treasurer with original receipts or vendor invoices attached.  The SBA Treasurer will not accept memoranda or copies. The organization should maintain copies of the voucher and receipts for its records.  The SBA Treasurer will only accept documents from the student organization treasurer.  Do not spend more than $200 before the SBA has allocated additional funds under the budget procedures.

The SBA reserves the right to refuse reimbursement for events or expenditures that do not comply with these guidelines.

Student organization budgets in excess of the $200 discretionary allocation will be determined at the beginning of each semester.  The deadlines will be distributed to student group officers before the semester begins.  

If you have doubts regarding whether an event you wish to plan is in within these guidelines, seek prior SBA approval.   Questionable expenditures on which the SBA has not voted will not be reimbursed until after the SBA votes on the issue at the next scheduled SBA meeting.  Please note that this may delay reimbursement or preclude it altogether.  Student organizations are therefore advised to be as prompt as possible with delivering reimbursement requests to the SBA Treasurer.  Obtaining prior approval will streamline the process and speed reimbursement.
Specific examples of attempts by students to spend funds in the past which have not been allowed, and will continue to be prohibited, include:

  • Use of funds for printing resumes of group members;
  • Transportation to political rallies;
  • Exclusive dinners for graduating members of the group;
  • Exclusive dinners for officers of the organization.
  • Use of discretionary funds for individual perks such as a meal while traveling or room service for members of a competition group.

These are set out as examples of expenditures for which the SBA will not provide funds. The funds which the SBA has to disburse to student organizations are from the activity fee charged to students each semester. As such, the expenditure of these funds should be for activities that directly benefit the entire student body.