Bulking up, SAC looks to improve allocation procedures

Most people would call me crazy for spending six hours of my Monday nights in a room with 13 other people discussing student activities. If I were to think about it logically, I would probably agree with them. However, this is part of the job of a Student Activities Commission Chair. And there is something about being on SAC that makes the routine Monday night meeting OK and even at times, enjoyable. I love my role of contributing to student activities and seeing groups come out with great programming.
When I tell people that I am on SAC, I usually get one of two responses. Some students, with their preconceived notions about SAC, dismiss me as a person who only knows how to say “no.” Others stare at me for a second as they search their mind and then blurt out, “Oh, like SAC Fair?” Unless I am feeling overly ambitious, I smile and respond, “Yeah, kind of.”
But SAC Fair, though a large program, is only a small part of what we do. The Student Activities Commission is a funding and advisory board for approximately 100 student organizations. We are responsible for allocating about $200,000 to them every year. It advises and funds groups of all different sizes, interests, and causes. Currently, SAC is composed of 13 commissioners who are each responsible for working with six to seven groups. Every Monday, groups present events with specific budgets and SAC votes to approve the events and their budgets.
But after an internal review prompted by the Georgetown University Students Association’s demand for advisory board reforms, SAC has undergone a major facelift. Our biggest change that will be put into effect in the spring of 2011 is a move from event-by-event allocation to bulk allocation.  No longer will groups have to come to SAC every Monday with their events and specific event budgets; groups will now get an allocation of money before the semester starts for their programming.
This is a reform for SAC that will fundamentally change the way SAC and student groups operate, one that is a truly positive change for both parties. Bulk allocation funding enables groups to plan out their own budgets and prioritize their own programming. They will be able to fund important events for their group at a higher level if they set up their budget appropriately. It empowers group leaders to take a more active role in controlling the finances of their group and allows them to plan out their semester with greater certainty. With fewer steps in event programming, group leaders will have more time to concentrate on programming, which will open up opportunities for groups to create new, creative events in the future.
The student body will benefit from this change, too. Campus programming will become more focused and smaller groups will have a larger programming presence. I think the changes that will come about will benefit the student body and improve campus life on the whole.
This change also affects SAC positively because we will be able to act more in an advisory capacity rather than concentrating on specific event budgets. Commissioners will have more time to work with their groups on event planning and advising clubs on how to effectively spend their funds and host successful programs. SAC will be able to grow in this role and become a greater advisory resource for student groups.
The changes will also give SAC more time to concentrate on issues that are important to student groups and advocate for them.  This has been a very busy semester for both SAC and student groups as we developed bulk allocation procedures and began to implement them, but it will be worth it.
Although I am sad that my term on SAC ends this semester and that I won’t get to see exactly how this new system will evolve, I know that SAC will be under great leadership next semester. I also know that SAC will carry out the changes and continue to help student groups. I look forward to seeing what great programming groups come up with next semester and learning what a normal Monday feels like. At the end of the day, bulking up the funding process will strengthen both SAC and student activities programming.