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Associated Students of the University of Washington |
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A Resolution Calling For Increased Support for Student Organizations WHEREAS at the University of Washington, Student Organizations register with the Student Activities Office (SAO) to become Registered Student Organizations (RSOs) who are able to apply for funding through ASUW and are eligible for other privileges through SAO upon registration; and WHEREAS there are over 600 Registered Student Organizations as of March 2008; and WHEREAS RSOs offer engaging and fun experiences for students, facilitate activities that allow students to apply knowledge learned in classrooms, make students more comfortable in an unfamiliar setting, provide services to students who are members of disadvantaged or underrepresented groups, add to an overall culture of learning at the University of Washington, and promote personal growth; and WHEREAS ASUW supports RSOs primarily through the Special Appropriations Committee, but also supports RSO activities through the eight ASUW Commissions; and WHEREAS the budgetary support of the ASUW for RSOs through the Special Appropriations Committee totals $55,000 per year[1]; and WHEREAS the overall budget of some individual RSOs in a given year exceeds $55,000; and WHEREAS Vice Provost of Student Life Eric Godfrey is among a group of administrators who have prioritized increasing support for RSOs and their activities, and expressed his opinion on the subject to the Student Senate on February 26, 2008 [2]; and WHEREAS it causes an undue burden upon RSOs and RSO events to have the restriction that to be eligible for funding, an event must be held on the University of Washington campus; and WHEREAS there are a great deal of other restrictions in place that make it more difficult for RSOs to gain outside support, some of which are mandated by law (specifically governing gifts of state funds and political actions), but others of which are University-determined policy or policies of the ASUW; and WHEREAS the restrictions on support available through ASUW and the University administration has led many students to create organizations whose purposes are centered around supporting RSOs to fill this gap; and WHEREAS it is in the best interest of students as well as the University at large for RSOs to be successful, and this success is at least partially dependent upon the availability of funding and other support for RSOs; therefore BE IT RESOLVED BY THE ASSOCIATED STUDENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON: THAT the ASUW supports the work of Registered Student Organizations (RSOs) in creating and promoting experiences for students that benefit their lives outside the classroom; and THAT the ASUW commends the work of Special Appropriations Committee, as well as the work done by the eight ASUW Commissions to aid RSOs in the conduct of their events and other activities; and THAT The Board of Directors be encouraged to form a taskforce to look at 1. The current funding mechanisms available to RSO’s 2. Alternative funding sources 3. Revisions or amendments to current ASUW funding mechanisms 4. Revisions and Amendments to University policy and procedures; and THAT the taskforce make a comprehensive recommendation to the BOD after one has been presented to the ASUW Student Senate about information uncovered and any possible changes suggested THAT any increases in available funding, including the funding for the Special Appropriations Committee, be available for all purposes allowed under applicable State and Federal Law, including for events that may be held outside the University of Washington campus; and THAT the ASUW supports the efforts of students to support student activities such as RSOs, including SOURCE (whose purpose is to run the Resource Center for Student Organizations) and Support Our Students! (whose purpose is to allocate funding to other Student Organizations), and encourages aid to these and similar organizations in fulfilling their purposes. [1] ASUW Budget, 2006-2007; ASUW Budget, 2007-2008. [2] ASUW Student Senate Minutes, 2-26-2008. History of Legislation 03/7/2008: Submitted for consideration |
Legislation ID: Date Submitted: Sponsor: Cosponsor(s):
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