Due to an increased freshmen class of roughly 120 students and the student activity fee raised from $5 to $6, the Student Government Association (SGA) started the 2017-18 school year with $66,690.79, doubling their starting budget for the 2016-17 school year of $33,144, according to Dustyn Hall, treasurer of SGA.
“Last year’s actions from the student finance committee (SFC) were successful in making sure that of got our budget back on track but not only the SFC’s actions but the SGA’s actions but really the student body’s actions,” said Hall.
All undergraduate students pay student activity fees that account for the total number of credit hours a student is taking per semester and SFC and SGA are given the authority to determine whether or not to allocate the requested funds, according to Hall.
Clubs and organizations can come to SFC with monetary requests to be approved or denied. If approved, it is voted on in the following SGA meeting.
The Board of Visitors and the Vice President’s office decided to lower the student activity fee from $6 to $5 in an effort to keep Longwood’s tuition under a three percent increase in the ’16-’17 school year, per Hall.
The SFC received a letter at the start of 2017 from the administration stating their promise to increase the student activity fee for the ’17-’18 year, according to Hall.
“I don’t think we are going to increase to another dollar so to ask for another dollar would not be conducive at this time to keep the increase under three percent,” said Hall.
The SFC has allocated $6,580 thus far to Relay for Life, Model U.N., the Black Student Association (BSA), leaving $60,110.79 left for the year.
Hall disclosed that the amount allocated so far this year is above average for this time of year but with Relay for Life missing their budgeting slot last year, they came to the SFC and requested funds that normally are requested in the spring.
“We are making sure to keep having these conversations that we are being fiscally responsible,” said Hall.
To prevent SGA from facing another budget shortfall, Hall believes freshmen enrollment and college affordability are both factors that will affect the SGA budget but ultimately, asking questions, Hall believes, will help make sure the SGA is making the appropriate choices as to what to allocate to clubs and organizations.
“What we are hearing through Dr. (Tim) Pierson, (vice president of student affairs) at some of our SGA meetings that our applications are already up this year so we are hopeful that the freshmen class that comes in next year will be just as large as the freshmen class this year,” said Hall.
In addition, Trisha McGregor was hired in July to serve as the new fiscal technician and administration assistant in July, according to Gary Honickel, assistant director of student clubs and organizations, on LancerLink.
“The great part of having Trish as our full time fiscal technician is her ability to provide me with up to date numbers at the click of a button,” said Hall.
McGregor and SGA President Kevin Napier declined comment.
Hall also believed the addition of the vice-treasurer role filled in SGA will help the budget stay in a “safe spot.” Joseph Atkins serves as both vice treasurer and senator.
“I don’t think that we are in the strongest spot possible by any means but do I think we will be fine this year,” said Hall.
SFC meetings occur weekly at 6 p.m. on Thursdays in the Amelia Room in the Lankford Student Union.
