A student organization information session about (re)licensing and funding for the 2014-2015 school year took place last Tuesday, May 6, in Driscoll 1864. This was the second of two information sessions, which went over requirements and deadlines for student organization licensing and funding for next year. Licensing and funding forms were due on OrgSync by Friday, May 9, at 11:59 p.m.

The information sessions were planned and presented by Jeffrey Mariano, USG on campus senator and chair of student organizations, and Melissa Sim, USG Daniels College of Business senator and chair of finance. According to Sim, a total of about 25 people showed up to both of the information sessions.

“This is the first time we have had info sessions,” said Sim. “We decided to have them because the both of us have repeatedly received emails with the same inquiries and concerns throughout this year. We thought it would be very effective to answer them in person as well as open up the floor to any additional questions the students may have.”

According to Sim, there were about 100 student organizations on campus this year. About 110 student organizations applied for relicensing next year and about 70 of those applied for funding.

Funding requests for student organizations can range from $750 to $20,000. The funding granted is determined by how much the organization requested, how much they have been granted in previous years, organization programming and inclusivity.

“We are trying to be as structured as possible this year in terms of relicensing and funding,” said Sim. “In the past, this process has received much criticism, as we weren’t as transparent as the student organizations would like us to be. As a result, we conducted info sessions and are making the relicensing and funding process as structured as possible.”