Every semester, students are confronted with tuition payments. In a time where inflation is impacting every market and college is more expensive than ever, students want to know where their money is going.
At UW Oshkosh, all students are charged segregated fees. Those are compiled into a pool where the Student Allocations Committee (SAC) divides them up for the 80 to 100 organizations on campus.
This year, students are contributing $1,400 each coming out to around $300,000 for spending. The problem: last year, 30% of that money went unspent.
Luiza Nelson, the student chair for SAC, is hoping to change that this year.
“I want the students of Oshkosh to be able to know that there’s a committee here that you’re able to join and you’re able to serve and know how your student fees are being spent,” said Nelson.
All segregated fees are separate from tuition. The money is used only to support programs and activities that have the “greatest benefit and best serve the interests of the student body.”
“Our committee right now has six voting members,” said Nelson. “There’s a non voting advisor, I’m the non voting student chair. And there’s a non voting student controller.”
SAC is looking for students to attend committee meetings and help make the final call on budget decisions.
“We want to make sure we are transparent with student fees, so students have a say,” said Nelson.
“We’re trying to work as a committee to ask how we simplify our rules. Are our rules complicated? Is the system too complicated? Well, we’re here and we want to make sure that we have it flexible and easy for organizations,” said Nelson.
Organizations are allowed to use their funds for whatever they want. From foods for club meetings to hiring guest speakers, there really isn’t a limit.
“You have this much money; we want at the end of the school year to say, ‘Oh, all orgs were able to spend resources [and put on] events to students so that they can succeed and have a great experience in college,” said Nelson.
This is not the first year SAC has experienced a sweep in funds. In the wake of COVID-19, it seems to be a recent trend.
“It just kind of created a pattern,” said Nelson. “And so now that we are here, we’re in person, our activities are in full swing. We want organizations to have the full advantage of their budgets.”
For all organization leaders and students who participate, Nelson and the SAC Student Controller Jack Zeihen have office hours. They are available to answer all questions regarding your organization’s budget and where your segregated fees are going.
The office hours schedule is available at advancetitan.com.
If you are interested in applying to become a member of the committee or want to learn what the SAC does, visit uwosh.edu/sac/forms/student-allocations-committee-member-application/.
To learn more about SAC and what they do, visit uwosh.edu/sac/.
For club purchasing and travel applications, visit uwosh.edu/osa/purchasing-and-travel/.
