Student Group Resources

If you need any assistance at all please to contact the EVP Student Resources Department at studentresources@asuc.org. The EVP Student Group and Coalition Resource Director Justin Kong or the EVP Student Resources Deputy Safeena Mecklai will respond within 24 hours.

Step 1: Alternative Funding

This section will detail any opportunities that I find for student groups to find some extra funding.

Student Opportunity Fund (LEAD Center): Please see the LEAD Center’s Website for more information. You or your group can apply for a  maximum of $2000 so definitely look into this.

Academic Opportunity Fund (ASUC AAVP Grant):  The Academic Opportunity Fund subsidizes off-campus academic pursuits – professional meetings, research conferences, academic competitions, and independent research.https://justinsayarath.wordpress.com/2011/10/06/attention-everyone-asuc-academic-affairs-vice-presidents-grants-are-up-and-running/

Intellectual Community Fund (ASUC AAVP Grant): The Intellectual Community Fund provides monetary support to educational, activist, and awareness events planned by and for Cal students.https://justinsayarath.wordpress.com/2011/10/06/attention-everyone-asuc-academic-affairs-vice-presidents-grants-are-up-and-running/

Educational Enhancement Fund (ASUC AAVP Grant): The Educational Enhancement Fund provides monetary support to DeCal courses and independent student-initiated courses at UC Berkeley.https://justinsayarath.wordpress.com/2011/10/06/attention-everyone-asuc-academic-affairs-vice-presidents-grants-are-up-and-running/

Public Service Fund (ASUC AAVP Grant): The Public Service Fund strives to develop a sense of community awareness and enrich students’ community service experiences. https://justinsayarath.wordpress.com/2011/10/06/attention-everyone-asuc-academic-affairs-vice-presidents-grants-are-up-and-running/

Multicultural Fund (ASUC AAVP Grant): The Multicultural Fund provides monetary support to events introducing the campus to a culture.https://justinsayarath.wordpress.com/2011/10/06/attention-everyone-asuc-academic-affairs-vice-presidents-grants-are-up-and-running/

Ethnic Studies Fifith Account (ASUC Fund): f your program has a multicultural and diversity emphasis, consider applying for the Ethnic Studies 5th Account. http://asuc.berkeley.edu/osa/inside.aspx?uid=191

Disabled Students Accommodation Fund (ASUC Fund): The ASUC strives to lend support to any ASUC-sponsored event or program to improve disability access. For information about how to receive funding, please contact the Director of this Fund, who will soon be appointed and announced. Talk to a Senator! (studentresources@asuc.org)

Pheao.com/studentorganizations: pheao.com is giving away $1,000 to any group who has members sign up and answer questions. The last marketing campaign was 100 questions but they’ve recently bumped it up to 250.

Student groups are always strapped for cash and I know a couple student organizations who have used pheao to raise money. So definitely look into it! I know that these things usually sound sketchy, but a lot of my student organizations have rallied their members together to fundraise using this method. So please use this!

Step 2: ASUC Senate Sponsorship (needed for ASUC Senate Contingency funding ex. bills, spring budgeting)

Types of Sponsorships: There are three types of student groups so start thinking about what type of student group you are a part of: Activity Group(student group has any type of interest ex. educational, sports, cultural),Publications (student group publishes a magazine, newspaper, etc.), or a Student Initiated Service Group/SISG (humanitarian, philanthropy, or service oriented group).

How to become Sponsored: Now that you know what type of student group you are a part of, ensure that your group is registered with the LEAD Center. Once registered with that office, take a copy of your constitution the LEAD Center located in 102 Hearst Gym. The LEAD Center will keep this and your student group’s constitution on file until the next ASUC Senate’s Financial Committee meeting. You should attend that meeting to ensure that the senator’s hear out why your group deserves ASUC funding (see criteria below). Finance Committee meetings are held in the Senate Chambers on the bottom floor of Eshleman at 9pm on Mondays. If everything goes according to plan, your group will be sponsored in no time! Next step is funding.

Criteria for Sponsorship:
(Title 2 Article 3.6 of ASUC By-Laws)

• Supplements or enhances academic preparation or development.
• Promotes or recognizes academic performance.
• Promotes an awareness and understanding of the ideas, customs, arts, languages, and social contributions of specific cultures.
• Promotes or sponsors community service
• Promotes discussion or debate of public issues from a variety of perspectives or viewpoints
• Develops personal, professional or career-related skills
• Provides recreational or social activities for students
• Allows students the freedom to choose and develop their own individual religious, ideological, and political beliefs
• Provides an opportunity for students to express their opinions, beliefs, and ideologies through the print medium
• Provides a forum for the expression of self, as a connection to a broader society, for the transference of knowledge gained, and as a conduit for new knowledge.
• Actions of the group do not jeopardize ASUC’s non-profit status.

Benefits of Sponsorship:
(Title 2 Article 3.3 of ASUC By-Laws)

• Use the name of the ASUC (in a manner consistent with these and other By-Laws and policies)
• Apply for funding from the Senate Contingency Fund
• Apply for office space in Eshleman as outlined in other By-Laws
• Apply for a fee-waiver for the usage of MLK Student Union rooms (including  Pauley Ballroom)

Requirements of Sponsorship:
(Title 2 Article 3.4 of ASUC By-Laws)

• Groups must display the words “Sponsored by the ASUC” or “ASUC” on all flyers or advertising for events
• Groups must indicate the degree of wheelchair accessibility at events described by flyer or advertising
• Groups must provide an internet link on the group’s homepage back to the official ASUC website at http://www.asuc.org if the group possesses a homepage
• Groups must display their organizations name and/or contact information (ie. Email addresses, phone numbers, office numbers, etc.) on all flyers and advertisements

Step 3: ASUC Senate Funding

Student Group Eligibility for Funding:
(Title 3 Article 5.1 of ASUC By-Laws)
A Student Group must comply with the following requirements to be eligible for funding:

• The group must be composed primarily of registered students of the Berkeley campus;
• The group must submit a constitution  to the LEAD Center
• The group must be sponsored by the ASUC Sponsorship and funding may be obtained concurrently;
• The group must not spend any of their ASUC funds to pay for activities and/or publications in support or against any ASUC candidates and propositions;
• All elected and appointed officers of the group must be registered UC Berkeley students;
• Only registered UC Berkeley students shall have access to funds contributed by the ASUC;
• Only registered UC Berkeley students can vote to form and/or alter the group constitution;
• The student group’s activities cannot jeopardize ASUC’s non-profit status.

How Funding Works: So there are two types of funding. There is Spring Budgeting and there is funding by asking a the EVP Student Resources Department write a Bill. Spring budgeting is the best way to get your funding and this is where you detail your budget for the upcoming Academic year and it is budgeted for by the ASUC senate so this usually includes operational costs for running your group (ex. printing, copying, flyers, events that you may have planned out early). And then for the things that you didn’t plan out early there is the Bill Process, which is how a lot of groups still obtain funding. Both are detailed below.

How to obtain Funding (Spring Budgeting): You must register your student group for the next academic year to maintain ASUC sponsorship even if you do not need any funding. You can also receive funding through the Spring Budgeting process, restrictions outlined below still apply.

Download and complete the electronic application from the website:http://asuc.org/newsite2010/resources/funding-resources/.
Make sure you use the correct application for your student group’s classification (Student Activity Group, Student-Initiated Service Group, Publication Group, or Government Programs). If you are unsure of your group’s classification please consult with an ASUC Student Resources officer at studentresources@asuc.org. Applications are due in March so please remember to do that.

How to obtain Funding (Bill Process): Now that you know that your group is eligible for funding, Immediately get in touch with an EVP Student Resources at studentresources@asuc.org. Set up a meeting with a student resources officer. Bring a detailed budget for the event or project you are planning to the meeting. The officer will cowrite a senate bill with you to present at the next senate finance committee meeting and he/she will also sponsor the bill. Senate Finance committee meetings are Mondays at 9pm in the Senate Chambers. Deadline for bill submissions to be seen at a finance committee meeting is Tuesday at 10am. If it is submitted at 11am you have to wait till the Monday after next to go to finance committee to talk about your bill. If you need some extra support, ask the officerthat wrote your bill to be at finance committee when your bill is called up for some moral help. Most will do that anyway (we are nice people!). Once your bill has been passed by the finance committee, you can leave. Sometimes finance committee meetings can be long, they may start at 9pm but your bill can come up anytime that evening so bring some homework to work on. Once your bill is called, you may be asked to talk about your group and the event or project you are planning. Once you are done talking, your bill has passed (maybe with amendments), you can leave, go home, and get some rest. Yay! All bills that pass through finance committee also come up during senate meetings which happen in the Senate Chambers on Wednesdays at 7pm, from past experience most bills that pass that are looked at in finance committee are placed on the consent calendar during senate meetings for immediate approval. But I just wanted to let you know because some bills are pulled, and discussed. But that is how the process works! Yay, you just got FUNDED!

Limitations and Types of Funding:
Most student groups receive funding from the Senate Contingency Fund, however if you are a Greek organization, you will be receiving funding from the Greek Opportunity Fund (scroll down to that part if you are a Greek Organization). It is extremely important that you know where your funding is coming from because there are limitations as to how much you can receive. Know these limitations as you are meeting with your Student Resources Officer and discussing your bill. No matter which fund you are receiving money from, there are few exceptions to the rule that $1500 can be the maximum allocation.

Senate Contingency Fund

1) Activity Groups shall be eligible for funding in following amounts:

• Any amount requested up to a limit of $200 in the first year that they receive funding from the ASUC.
• No more than $400 in the second year that they receive funding from the ASUC.
• No more than $600 in the third year that they receive funding from the ASUC.
• At the discretion of the Senate from the fourth year on.
• Groups that do not receive funding from the ASUC for two years will be considered first year groups (as under Subsection 1 above) when they reapply for ASUC funding.
• Groups that receive first year funding from the ASUC Contingency Fund after the Tenth Week of classes in the Spring Semester shall be considered as first year groups under this article for the following year.
• The actual amount of funding to be determined by the ASUC after examining factors including, but not limited to, number of members, scope of influence, level of activity, etc.

2) Publication Groups shall be eligible for funding in the following amounts:

• Any amount requested up to a limit of $700 in the first year that they receive funding from the ASUC.
• No more than $900 in the second year that they receive funding from the ASUC.
• No more than $1,100 in the third year that they receive funding from the ASUC.
• At the discretion of the ASUC from the fourth year on.
• Groups that do not receive funding from the ASUC for two years will be considered first year groups, as under Subsection 1 above, when they reapply for ASUC funding.
• The actual amount of funding to be determined by the ASUC after examining factors including, but not limited to,  number of members, scope of influence, level of activity, etc.

3) SISGs shall be eligible for funding at the discretion of the Senate.

Greek Opportunity Fund

• The ASUC may fund fraternities and sororities that are members of the campus Inter-Fraternity Council, Panhellenic Council, National Pan-Hellenic Council, or Multi-Cultural Greek Council for the organization  of events that focus on: community service and philanthropy; scholarship and educational enhancement; leadership development; professional and career development; and/or health and safety, including alcohol education.
• Greek Opportunity Fund shall be the sole source of funding for fraternities and sororities. Fraternities and sororities who receive funding from the Greek Opportunity Fund shall not receive funding from the Senate Contingency Fund at any point during the year, unless that fraternity or sorority  is recognized as a Student-Initiated Service Group.
• All events funded through the Greek Opportunity Fund must be open to the entire campus community and publicized widely as ASUC-sponsored events with the exception of the annual AFLV Leadership Conference which all four Greek Councils attend.
• All bills requesting funding from the Greek Opportunity Fund shall be referred to the Standing Committee on Finance. The Standing Committee shall include the organization’s effort to publicize its event to the campus community as a major part of its review.
• Fraternities and sororities must be in good standing with their respective council in order to receive funding from the Greek Opportunity Fund.
• No allocation from the Greek Opportunity Fund shall exceed $1,500 per allocation, or 7% of total amount budgeted so far for this fund for that fiscal year per allocation, whichever is higher.
•  Fraternities and sororities that are recognized as Student-Initiated Service Groups and that receive funding to organize events shall not receive more than $1,500 in total allocation from the Greek Opportunity Fund and the Senate Contingency Fund for a single event.
• An amount of $2,000 shall be set aside from the Greek Opportunity Fund specifically for travel expenses and registration fees for Executive Cabinet members of the CalGreeks Councils who have extinguished all sources of funding and are in dire need of funding in order to attend the annual AFLV Leadership Conference.