X. SGA Funding

After student organizations have been active and recognized for three consecutive semesters, they qualify for funding from the Student Government Association (SGA). In accordance with the SGA Constitution and Code-of-Laws, funding for student organizations are classified into three categories: Appropriations, Co-Sponsorships, and Supplemental Travel Grants. Funding is approved on a first come, first serve basis.

What are Appropriations? When SGA drafts its budget each semester, the Treasurer designates a portion to be distributed to student organizations. The SGA Appropriations Committee and Comptroller are responsible for approving or denying requests based on university rules and regulations. When you apply for Appropriations, you are applying to be reimbursed for your organization’s expenses.

Who can receive funds? All registered student organizations are eligible to receive funds from SGA. If you don't know if your organization is registered with the university, contact studentinvolvement@southalabama.edu

What can I receive funding for? How much?

Appropriations Rules

Here are a few of the rules and regulations all students must adhere to when requesting Appropriations:

• An organization can request funds for uniforms, which are defined as torso or leg garments.
• SGA cannot pay for equipment, such as media equipment, audio equipment, digital cameras, computers, printers, videos, books, hardware, tools, recreational equipment, individual sports safety equipment, or intramural equipment.
  
  • The only exception to this rule is if the equipment is not reasonably available on campus and that is vital for the organization to function.
• SGA cannot pay for an organization's fees, such as, but not limited to, website fees, chapter fees, membership fees, and intramural fees.
• SGA cannot pay for food or drink requests.
• All purchases must be accompanied by receipts.

Supplemental Travel Grants

Here are a few of the rules and regulations all students must adhere to when requesting Supplemental Travel Grants:

• SGA cannot provide funding to an organization unless the organization can demonstrate with documentation the educational/academic benefit of the event and the necessity of their attendance.
• SGA can reimburse for gas or mileage for one vehicle for every four students, and the estimated mileage must be calculated using the main campus as the starting point.
• All purchases must be accompanied by receipts.

Co-Sponsorships

Here are a few of the rules and regulations all students must adhere to when requesting Co-Sponsorships:

• Organizations are allowed to request financial support for food and drink.
• The organization must entail additional support through funding, advertising, physical presence at the event, and/or by any other means deemed appropriate.
• The organization must provide the Appropriations Committee with the
  following:
  
  • Information about the project's full scope.
  • Information about additional sponsors, their support, or additional funding methods.
  • A full copy of all receipts for services, materials, or items used in the project, not just receipts that may be reimbursed by SGA.
  • An after-event report of the co-sponsorship goals, accomplishments, and results to be presented to the Appropriations Committee.
• Co-Sponsorships whose purpose may be deemed philanthropic may charge a maximum of $10.00 per student.

Rules and Regulations

All Rules and Regulations regarding Appropriations can be found in The Lowdown. Digital copies of The Lowdown can be found on the university's website by typing "The Lowdown" in the search bar.

How Appropriations Works

Appropriations is a 4 step process. Please review the following timeline:

Timeline

Budget Request

How to submit a budget request:

Login to InvolveSouth > click the "three horizontal lines" icon in the top left of the home screen > click on the settings icon next to your organization's logo (not SGA) > click
"finance" > click "create request" in the top right of the screen > select "create budget request" > select Appropriations, Travel Grant, or Co-Sponsorship. From here, you will be asked to provide some information about your request, then you should be able to submit the request.

Purchase Request

How to submit a purchase request:

Login to InvolveSouth > click the "three horizontal lines" icon in the top left of the home screen > click on the settings icon next to your organization's logo (not SGA) > click
"finance" > click "create request" in the top right of the screen > select "create purchase request" > select Appropriations, Travel Grants, or Co-Sponsorships. From here, you will be asked to provide some information about your request, all relevant receipts, and the SGA Reimbursement Form.

SGA Reimbursement Form

The SGA Reimbursement Form can be found on the university's website, under the Appropriations tab of the SGA page. Here are a few things to note when filling out the SGA Reimbursement Form:

• Provide the J Number of the student or organization that will be reimbursed.
  
  • If the organization spends money and wants to be reimbursed, you must provide the J Number for the organization. If you don't know your organization's J Number, please email SGA Assistant Director Heather Sprinkle at hsprinkle@southalabama.edu.
• When selecting an account, please reach out to your advisor. Your advisor should know whether to use a FOAPAL account or a different off-campus account.
• Make sure your receipts and SGA Reimbursement Form are attached to the same document.
• InvolveSouth will only let you attach one document.