Last Thursday, Room 125 in Fisher Hall was abuzz with discussion, as new treasurers and representatives from established and prospective Registered Student Organizations (RSOs) gathered for a HuskyLEAD seminar titled, “Creating Effective RSO Budgets.”
Hosted by Michigan Tech’s Undergraduate Student Government (USG) Treasurer Isobel Bowker and Taylor Piering, Coordinator of Student Leadership and Involvement, the session aimed to prepare RSOs for the upcoming budget hearings.
Bowker began the hour-long seminar by explaining how the Student Activity Fee (SAF)—a fee included in tuition—is allocated. Undergraduate students contribute $60 per semester, while graduate students pay $50. Half of these funds directly support RSO budgets, with the remainder funding platforms like Involvement Link, which streamlines payment requests and maintains RSO databases.
The seminar also outlined eligible uses for SAF funds, such as equipment and materials for items like team jerseys, durable sports gear, travel, cultural events, renting spaces, and hiring safety personnel like lifeguards. Bowker clarified that SAF funds cannot be used for food (except during cultural events), giveaways, salaries, or unrelated activities that are not within the scope of the organization.
Attendees received practical tips to streamline their budget requests, including keeping “line items” vague to allow flexibility, combining similar expenses to minimize revisions, and relying on past data or quotes for realistic projections.
Bowker and Piering stressed the importance of submitting accurate receipts that include the date, proof of payment, and item descriptions, noting that incomplete or unclear receipts often result in reimbursement denials.
A significant portion of the seminar focused on ensuring smooth transitions between outgoing and incoming treasurers. “We’ve had instances where new treasurers didn’t even know which bank their organization used,” Bowker noted, underscoring the need for structured handovers.
The speakers recommended maintaining detailed financial records, ensuring banking and employer identification number information is easily accessible, and training successors on budget processes and tools like Involvement Link.
Budget requests for the 2025-2026 fiscal year are due by Jan.26, with hearings scheduled for February or March. RSOs can access their approved funds starting Jul. 1, 2025 with allocations running through Jun. 30, 2026.
