The Student Council appropriations committee released the preliminary figures for the allocation of $695,570 among 206 Contracted Independent Organizations who requested funding for the 2002-2003 school year.
The Virginia Rowing Association received the most money with $23,698. Following close behind was the Virginia Polo club, which received $23,140.
"Sports and publications traditionally get the most money because of travel costs and equipment purchases and because of expensive printing costs," said Kelly Harris, Council Vice President for Organizations. "It's a trend we've seen for the last five years."
Though the committee released these figures yesterday, CIO allocations technically will not be finalized until the appeals process is complete, Council President Abby Fifer said.
However, with the most rigorous part of the process having been completed, Council members agreed that, historically, few modifications have been made beyond this point.
"Usually there aren't huge changes" following the appeals process, said Harris. "But it varies from year to year."
A mandatory Student Activities Fee of $39 paid by each student attending the University provides the source of the money distributed to the student organizations.
The application process begins when groups submit their budgets to the appropriations committee. The committee then reviews the funding requests in a process of hearings and deliberations, making adjustments they deem appropriate before passing their recommendations on to Council.
Council will consider its decisions Tuesday, April 9, to ensure compliance with the Board of Visitors' guidelines before announcing the official allocations to the various CIOs.
Funding levels may be adjusted or denied for a variety of reasons. For example, specific constraints exist that prohibit the allocation of funds generated from mandatory student fees to certain religious organizations. Only the non-religious activities of such groups can receive SAF funding.
"The same goes for political organizations," Harris said. "Only nonpolitical activities can be funded."
Denials also may result from a club's failure to meet application deadlines or attend required funding hearings.
Black Voices, a predominantly black Christian choir, is one of only two groups that were denied funding. Harris cited an incomplete budget as the reason for the denial, but both she and Fifer indicated that the group would likely receive support following the appeals process.
Representatives will review appeals beginning Tuesday April 16.
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