By Brandon Miles
Bemidji, MN- With the 2010-2011 school year coming to a close at Bemidji State University, the Student Activity Fee Allocation Committee, better known as SAFAC, received a $630,725 budget for the 2011-2012 school year. The budget is more than SAFAC has worked with in the past couple of years and this is due to the increased enrollment at BSU. Although SAFAC’s budget is a large number, they were unable to grant all of the requested funds.
According to BSU Today, the student enrollment is at an all time high, with a 33% increase in freshman enrollment over the past five years. The boosted enrollment has increased the amount of student organizations, which ultimately leads to an increased budget.
“In terms of funding, our current SAFAC budget is not large enough to support all of the requests,” said Bill Maki, vice president for finance and administration. There are over 40 student organizations and if they all receive the requested amount, SAFAC’s budget would be in a $150,000 deficit.
The American Indian Science and Engineering Society, an organization whose goal is to increase American Indian interest and participation in science and engineering, was only approved to receive $1,297. The approved funding amounts to 25% of the requested $5,082. A number of other programs are taking only a slight cut in funds such as the Talley Gallery, which had its request cut only by $20.
The University Theatre program is expected to take the largest cut in funding because of the recent university budget cut, which is not associated with SAFAC’s budget. The current approved budget is $17,868, roughly 50% less than the requested $41,000. This means less money for actors, equipment, professors, and other costs associated with producing plays. The program will be completely ceased after next year, due to the fact that the University Department was one of four departments at Bemidji State that will be dropped entirely from the curriculum.
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| Leah Palmer, Chairman fo SAFAC Takes Part in Student Senate Meeting |
“The loss in funding is based on the fact that the University Theatre has been removed from the curriculum.” Said Leah Palmer, chairman for SAFAC. “The theatre will not be involved with the university, so we will be unable to provide them with funds.”
Other programs either took zero cuts or were recommended to receive more than their original request. The Rugby Men's team, Ultimate Frisbee Club, and Habitat for Humanity will receive exactly what they requested, while the program for international students will receive an additional thousand dollars, according to the proposed plan.
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| Student Senat Discuss SAFAC Budget Photo by Brandon Miles |
"The budget plan may appear tight on money because some student organizations did not receive their requested amount,” said Palmer. “But we are working with more money than we’ve had in the past few years, which gives us the opportunity to have a multitude of student organizations.”
Although some student organizations did not receive their requested budgets, SAFAC reserved $20,000 for emergency funding and new student clubs that emerge during the year. Regardless of the organization that receives funding, the reserved money will be spent entirely on student organizations. SAFAC will have the ability to grant money toward any student organization that exceeds the given budget, runs into a financial dilemma such as the Northern Student, or funding new organizations
The Northern Student ran into financial troubles earlier this year after suffering from a budget cut and a failed business relationship with The Pioneer, SAFAC stepped in and provided emergency funds to keep the paper going. The Northern Student still was only approved for considerably less than requested. However, if the student paper or any other organization ran into this same dilemma, SAFAC could be more than capable of stepping in to lend a hand.
The budget plan created by SAFAC has yet to be approved by the Student Senate. Once the Senate approves the plan, whether it is the current proposal or one made in the near future, the budget has to be approved by Bill Maki. If the budget plan were to be approved, it is reviewed by the Board of Trustees in the early summer to get the final approval. If this were to happen, then all students of BSU will be notified via email of the budget plan that will be in effect for the last year.
"Hopefully, with the approval of our comprehensible budget plan, we can keep as many programs here at BSU as possible," says Palmer. "Everyone isn’t happy, but we are dealing with the situation the best we can with the resources given."
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