Specific Funding Rules

This section has been broken down by categories, and comprises a number of guidelines that the SBA Budget Committee and SBA as a whole will consider when deciding whether to approve specific funding requests.

It is important to note that, unless otherwise stipulated, student groups must advertise any event that makes use of SBA funding with an email to the general student body containing the following language in a noticeable font size:

“This event is partially or fully paid for by the student body of UConn Law, under the direction of the Student Bar Association. All law students are invited and encouraged to participate.”

1. Transportation

Student transportation expenses cannot be reimbursed if the event takes place within 150 miles of the UConn Law campus. Mileage reimbursement for events taking place more than 150 miles from campus will be reimbursed at the federal business mileage rate set by the Internal Revenue
Service that is in effect on the date of the event.

Transportation expenses for a non-student guest speaker, visiting from more than 30 and less than 150 miles (including New York and Boston) can be reimbursed up to $20 at the discretion of the Budget Committee. Transportation expenses for a guest visiting from less than 30 miles will not be reimbursed. Should this provision be exercised, the Treasurer will notify the SBA at the next scheduled SBA meeting.

Travel expenses are limited to $150/person each way ($300 roundtrip). A plane ticket and hotel comparison (from Kayak, Travelocity, or another travel site) must be provided to show costs are lowest possible or 2nd lowest possible. For travel to Washington, DC, travel expenses are limited to $100/person each way ($200 roundtrip).

2. Lodging

Hotel expenses are limited to $125/night for two people. Hotel expenses cannot be reimbursed if the event takes place within 150 miles of the UConn Law campus except for the exception below. Hotel expenses will not be reimbursed if the group intends to pay a guest’s travel expenses that will be coming from within 150 miles (that includes NY and Boston).

Hotel expenses may be reimbursed subject to the budgetary discretion of the SBA if an activity is an academic or professional development event (e.g. – legal competition, law or public interest-related conference, workshop, or seminar, etc.) that is two days or longer and is further than 90 miles from the UConn Law campus. No language within this provision shall be construed to include standalone career or job fairs.

3. Registration Fees

Student organizations are limited to $500 in registration fees per event.

4. Food/Drink

The SBA will approve funding for pizza for meetings and events at the rate of $8 per cheese pizza and $9 for a pizza with one topping. These prices may be obtained at Sgt. Pepperoni’s Pizza (296-0535) when the order is identified as a purchase for a UConn Law event.

For food pricing, please provide quotes from at least Truffles and a Supermarket (like Stop and Shop, Shaws, Waldbaums, etc).

The SBA cannot fund any events involving alcohol or uncooked meat (unless the meat is being prepared by a caterer).  Funding for any event where sushi is to be served is contingent on the receipt of administration approval prior to the date of the event.

5. Event Location

Events taking place at any person's private residence will not be eligible to receive SBA funding.

6. Journal Expenses

Journal Orientation expenses are capped at $250 per year.  Journal proof day expenses are capped at $250 per proof day.  Cost overruns may be paid for using the organization's discretionary funding allocation.

7. Catering

For the protection of University personnel, property and University guests, all caterers conducting business on campus are required to present evidence that they have both liability insurance and worker's compensation insurance. A Certificate of Insurance, naming the University of Connecticut as an "additional insured", must be submitted to the Purchasing Department prior to the catered event. Minimum acceptable coverage will include the following:

  • General Liability
    • General Aggregate $1,000,000
  • Automobile Liability
    • Any auto $1,000,000
  • Excess Liability
    • Umbrella $1,000,000
    • Personal injury $300,000
    • Each Occurrence $300,000
    • Combined Single Limit $300,000

The Purchasing Department does not write purchase orders for catering services valued at less than $2,000. It will be the ordering organization’s responsibility to ensure that the necessary documents are submitted and meet the above criteria. Any questions regarding insurance requirements for catering services should be directed to the Purchasing Department at extension (860) 486-4202.

Please note that catering contracts are defined as those wherein the private contractor serves the food. Contracts for coffee and pastry services, etc., where the food is delivered but not served are not considered catering contracts.

The cafeteria on campus is Truffles (860-570-5304). It has the right to bid on catered events sponsored by the Law School.