Student organizations that wish to obtain funds can now submit requests to the Student Government Appropriations Committee through late September, according to committee chair Kelli Rogers.

Appropriations is a bi-annual process in which student organizations can apply for partial funding from Student Government to help with campus events, travel and other group expenses.

According to Rogers, the chair of the Appropriations Committee and junior in political science, the SG members involved want to help as many student organizations as possible.

“It’s great for the groups to be able to come to Student Government to get the funds because they pay a fee to Student Government,” she said. “Student Government wants to support as many groups as possible and be as diverse as possible. This is one of Student Government’s biggest roles.”

Rogers said student organizations who wish to receive money from Student Government have to be registered with the Student Organization Resource Center. On Tuesday Rogers said she sent out e-mails to every student organization registered to inform them of the opportunity to apply for funds.

Scott Lassiter, student body treasurer and junior in political science, said he will oversee the appropriations process with regards to Student Government’s budget.

“I essentially keep an eye on the budget and with approval of Student Senate come up with how much money we can actually give away during each cycle,” he said.

Lassiter said the committee normally receives around $150,000 of requests from student groups but only has around $50,000 to give to the groups.

“We give out right around $50,000 in the fall appropriations cycle and then we do the same during the spring,” he said. “There is a max of about $4,000 per group.”

According to the Appropriations Packet on the Student Government Web site, groups can request money for several different reasons, including start-up funding for new groups, funding for on-campus events, athletic club funding and travel funding.

Once all the requests are submitted later this month, Rogers said she will split up student organizations among the eight senators on the committee who will conduct interviews to determine the validity of the groups’ requests.

“I set up the appropriations Web site and then I will assign different groups to certain senators,” she said. “Once the groups are assigned the senators and organizations will have interviews.”

Once the organizations meet with the senators, the committee will draft a bill by Oct. 1 which will contain the dollar amounts delegated for each group.

The final Student Senate vote on the appropriation of the funds will come on Oct. 15, according to Rogers.

“Those groups who receive funds will see checks within two to six weeks after the final vote,” she said.

Rogers said she hoped all student groups who apply for money will make honest requests that reflect the true needs of the group rather than wants.

According to Lassiter, the experience of appropriating money to groups is an interesting one.

“It’s a neat thing to look through these applications and see what people are planning on campus,” he said. “It’s a good way to stay in the loop. I would encourage people who are in clubs to apply for money.”