ASUSU approves academic funding

ASUSU Academic Senate members began approving students to receive funding through the Academic Opportunity Fund Monday.

The fund provides undergraduate students up to $500 to participate in a sponsored event aimed at presenting a scholastic achievement or participation in an academic competition.

This is the first year the ASUSU senators have been in charge of allotting these funds. Since 2002, there has been a separate board for the Academic Opportunity Fund. However, ASUSU senate members hope that through approving these funds, they will play a more active role in the students’ academic pursuits.

“This is set up to provide students with funding options,” said Andrew Shaw, ASUSU natural resources senator, who was a member of the Academic Opportunity Fund board.

During its weekly meeting, the senate approved funding for seven music students to attend an event in London, where they will each be performing. Each student will receive $100.

“That was the first approval from the Academic Opportunity Fund this year and there’s already a couple of applications to be reviewed as well,” said Cody Bingham, ASUSU agriculture senator.

In order to receive funding, students must meet a list of strict criteria due to limited funding available.

“When funds are limited and we try to stretch them between students, it’s hard,” Shaw said.

Of the criteria, only undergraduate students are allowed to apply. Many department heads and deans feel that undergraduate students are precluded from academic opportunities because of lack of funding, according to the Academic Opportunity Fund policy paper.

They must also be accepted or invited by an organization to represent the university through academic achievement. Students are also required to receive a minimum of $100 from a department, college or university source for travel expenses.

This year, through student government fees, there is $8,300 available for the fund.

“Last year we had a budget of $10,000 and we ended up requesting more money,” Shaw said.

The funds are distributed on a first-come, first-serve basis.

-mmackay@cc.usu.edu