by Geary Cox / News editor

The Student Government Association will begin reforming the process of funding front-end budgeted (FEB) groups and providing funds to smaller groups later this semester.

Currently, the largest groups on campus receive funding through the FEB process. Such groups include the University Programming Board, Student Ambassadors, Panhellenic Association, Interfraternity Council and the Sports Club Council.

Groups without FEB status currently must apply for funds from a contingency account on a piecemeal basis.

"The changes will provide more structure on who will be a FEB group and who stays FEB," said Student Body President Tom Culligan. "We will also avoid conflicts of interest and discrepancies between groups."

At present, the SGA appropriates its own budget before allocating money for other groups. Changes to the current system would place control of the SGA budget in the hands of the Special Advisory Council, an administrative body that oversees the allocation of all funds to the SGA.

"We have had a lot of trouble because we allocate [the budget for other groups] and we also allocate our budget," Culligan said.

Additionally, the SGA will introduce a FEB Advisory Committee to set benchmarks and goals for FEB groups, assist with the FEB budgeting process and make reports to the SGA regarding the progress of the FEB groups.

"Every two years, SGA reviews FEB status for every group," said junior Gina Maurone, SGA treasurer.

Should a group fail to meet objectives set by the FEB Advisory Committee, the group would face a status review and could lose its right to FEB status.

"The process gives everyone the emotional appeal from the groups, but also the facts from the FEB Advisory Committee," Culligan said.

Reforms will include the creation of program grants for non-FEB groups. Culligan said that groups could apply for a grant to host a large, "FEB-size" program or event.

"This will encourage groups to plan for long-term events," Maurone said. To receive a grant, a group or groups must apply a semester in advance.

Also under the proposal, a non-FEB group only may receive $2,000 from contingency funds in a year.
Culligan and Maurone also will work to reform reserve funds. Currently, groups who receive money from the SGA can hold leftover money in a reserve account and use it in the following year. One group, Culligan said, has $9,000 in reserves, but has not operated for 10 years.
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We can’t convince the administration to increase our funding when some groups are keeping money locked away so no one can touch it," Culligan said.
If

the resolution is passed by the Student Senate, changes will come into effect for the coming budget year. A trial period of two years is planned, allowing the SGA to remodel and reconsider provisions proposed.

"I love [the idea]," sophomore Sen. Brendan Travis said. "Every problem I’ve seen within our budget system has been solved."