SBA Funding Guidelines

The Student Bar Association (SBA) supports over 40 student organizations in their varied endeavors including, but not limited to, conferences, panels, and community service projects. If you have any questions and/or concerns, please contact the SBA Treasurer.

2023-2024 Student Organization Handbook (PDF)

Learn to plan an activity.

General Rules & Procedures

These processes are in place to ensure three things:

1. Accurate and up-to-date account balance organizations
2. Transparency: all purchases and budget requests must be cleared by your president
3. Avoidance of over-spending

Content on this page:

• Making Purchases
• Making a Deposit
• Event Budget Request
• Requesting Dean's Funds
• Budget Committee

Making Purchases

Three options are available:

• Reimbursement Request Form (your own funds)
• Credit Card Use Form

Submit all forms to the SBA Treasurer through the ConnectSU forms page for the Student Bar Association

Reimbursement Request Form (after use of personal funds)

• Use your own funds and fill out the Reimbursement Request Form to have a reimbursement check processed for you.
• Receipts must be uploaded and submitted along with the reimbursement form via ConnectSU.
• All reimbursements need pre-approval of the SBA Treasurer

Credit Card Use Form

• Submit this form at least two weeks before the date of the event to the SBA Treasurer via ConnectSU.
• Please attach information regarding the vendor hotel or airfare.
• Regarding Hotel: Please contact the hotel and procure a credit card authorization form. The business office will fill out the form and fax it back to the hotel on your behalf.
• Regarding Airfare: After finding the tickets of your choice you should have 24 hours to hold the price. Take this form (approved by the SBA Treasurer) to Carmelita Krasucki in the business office. She will book the flight for you.
• Important note: You must submit an invoice to the SBA Treasurer after the event (i.e. total of charges at the hotel OR confirmation of cost for airfare). If you fail to do so, then your organization’s credit card privileges may be revoked.

On-Campus Purchases

• Do not use your organization's account number and directly charge to your account. If you do, then your org will be placed on “funding probation” and will not be allowed any additional SBA Funds until such time that the SBA Treasurer reconciles your account.
• Campus Catering: Arliss Doss will place the order for you only after it has been submitted as part of an Event Request Form.

Making a Deposit

• Fill out the SBA Deposit Form and submit to the SBA Treasurer.
• Deposits will be made each day before 5:00 PM.
• Please notify the SBA Treasurer via email or this form if any gifts or special income contributions are deposited into your account.

Event Budget Request

• Requests must be made two weeks prior to an event to the SBA Treasurer by submitting an Event Budget Request Form. Failure to do so may result in a reduced SBA contribution. Funds will NOT be approved after the fact.
• The SBA will generally provide funding not to exceed $300 for an event.

Requesting Dean's Funds

• Requests for funding from the Deans for a conference or event can also be requested via ConnectSU
• The Dean will fund:
  • $100.00 in matching funds per student organization for a reception or speaker invited to appear at an event open to the law school community.
  • One-half the cost of registration fees, travel, meals and other reasonable expenses towards approved student participation in a regional or national conference of a SBA recognized parent organization or student group.
  • Only one event per organization per academic year will be funded. Funds will not exceed a total of $250.00.
  • Travel funds for student teams participating in competitions authorized by the Moot Court or Alternative Dispute Resolution Boards that advanced from regional rounds to national finals.
  • See Dean’s Funding Guidelines for more information.

Budget Committee

How the Budget Committee works:

• The SBA Budget Committee reviews all requests. After review, the Budget Committee will recommend an amount to the SBA for a vote, which may be greater, less than or equal to the amount requested.
• The Budget Committee evaluates the following factors: (1) organization’s contribution to event; (2) how the event increases the visibility of the law school; (3) level of advanced planning; (4) organization’s participation in the community and at the school; (5) the importance of the event; (6) and the amount of additional funds that the SBA has already given to the organization.

You are welcome to attend the Budget Committee Meeting to assist with clarifications and answer additional questions.