The Student Fee Review Board has begun its 2016-17 application process, allowing organizations and resources who serve UNM students to apply for a piece of the student activity fee pie.
Delia Brennan, an undergraduate voting member on the SFRB, said the board allocates millions of dollars in student fees to different units on campus.
These units range from UNM’s libraries, to on-campus resource centers, to Popejoy Hall, she said. Any unit that serves students is encouraged to apply.
Student-led chartered organizations, however, are not eligible for funding and should instead go through the ASUNM appropriation process.
There are four major components to the SFRB process, Brennan said. It starts with the applications, as each unit fills out an application, including detailed budget sheets.
Brennan said the next step is the hearing process, wherein each unit has 15 minutes to present their budget and describe the programs that student fees will be funding, essentially making their case for student activity funds. This is followed by a 15 to 30 minute allotment of time for questions from the board.
As a board, Brennan said members usually ask for specifics on the number of students that will be impacted by these programs and what the outcomes of the program have been in the past.
After all of the hearings are complete, Brennan said the SFRB hosts student forums in the SUB, where students can speak in support of certain programs if they utilize them and want to be sure they remain funded.
“Finally, the board enters deliberations,” she said. “This part is the trickiest, because we go through each application individually and have to decide whether or not to fund the unit at the full requested amount. If not, we have to decide which programs are not absolutely vital, and cut those if need be.”
SFRB will be hosting its student input forum in the SUB Atrium on October 18th and 19th for any student to come and voice their opinions when it comes to where their fees go.
This year, ASUNM President Kyle Biederwolf will serve as the chair of the board, with GPSA President Glenda Lewis serving as vice-chair.
The SFRB chair chooses who sits on the board through an application and interview process. The application was open for about 4 weeks, and 7 individuals applied.
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It is important for students to know where their money is going, and how it will benefit them and the University, Biederwolf said. That transparency was a big part of his platform when he ran in the spring.
“Transparency is our number one priority when it comes to student fees,” Biederwolf said. “We want students to know where their fees are going. We are setting the bar high for ourselves this year with transparency and that is going to be made happen with our stellar communications team.”
Biederwolf said they plan to be very active on the SFRB website as well as the ASUNM Facebook page.
“The best way for us to be as transparent as possible would be for students to attend the forums and voice their opinions,” he said.
For more information about the application process or any questions about the SFRB go to sfrb.unm.edu.
