Student group leaders,
Requests for SBA funding are due by email to Lane Blake (lane.a.blake@gmail.com) by August 13th. To request SBA funding each group must submit a detailed budget and a short description of the group’s plans for the ‘08-’09 year. Only SBA chartered groups are likely to receive funding at this time. Chartered, unchartered and yet-to-be chartered groups may request funding from the contingency fund after the budget is approved.
The budget must specify how the money will be spent. The budget must be accompanied by an explanation of the group, the number of members, its plans for the year, and any other sources of funds such as membership dues paid and/or fund raising efforts.
Please take the time to create a realistic and detailed request. Last year 25 groups requested about a total $61,000. But annually the SBA has only ~$14,000 to allocate. This averages out to about $650 per group. Some groups received more others received less based on the factors spelled out in the by-laws.
In evaluating proposed budget requests the following factors are considered by the budget committee (not necessarily listed in order of importance or weight, and the budget committee may use additional factors in consideration):
—Educational value of the programs;
—Number of students in the organization;
—Number of students who will benefit from the programs;
—Benefit of the programs to the law school and the community as a whole;
—Past performance and use of allocated funds by the group;
—Merits of the programs.
The following expenses are not eligible for SBA funding:
—Any expenditure in violation of the rules promulgated by the University of Cincinnati;
—Any activities of an organization that discriminates on the basis of race, nationality, sex, religion, or sexual preference;
—Individual memberships in any organization except in accordance with these By-laws; and
—Alcohol.
A sample budget and explanation are attached to illustrate. Please use the attached template to prepare your group’s request. The more detail provided, the more likely the budget committee will be able to see how a group satisfies the factors. Budgets received after the due date or not in compliance with these requests will NOT be considered.
On August 25th at 10am in room 302 the Budget Committee will meet to recommend a budget. The recommended budget will be submitted to the SBA for approval.
Students are free to observe the August 25th meeting but no comments are permitted. Students interested in commenting may email comments to any member of the Budget Committee. Comments will help the Budget Committee but the Committee will primarily rely upon the budget request and accompanying description—these are a group’s best opportunity to persuade the Committee. The Budget Committee members are Kelley Brandstetter, Lane Blake, Zachary McCune, Scott Brenner and an incoming 1L to be determined.
If you have any questions or concerns please contact me.
Scott Brenner
SBA Budget Committee Chair-Person
(513) 885-1072
Attachments:
Sample Group Budget
Sample Group Description
Budget Template
University of Cincinnati College of Law is the fourth oldest continually running law school in the United States and a founding member of the Association of American Law Schools. It was started in 1833 as the Cincinnati Law School. Then-dean and future 27th President of the United States, William Howard Taft (1880), merged it with the University of Cincinnati in 1896.