Student Assembly Finance Commission
February 7, 2011
5:00 p.m. — 6:00 p.m.
163 Day Hall

I. Call to Order

The Meeting was called to order at 5:00 p.m.

II. Roll Call

Commissioners

Shah Ahmad, Calvin Baldwin, Anna Connors, Jacob Frank, Matthew Gruber, Dan Gusz, Erich Heintzen, Kristen Jenkins, George Kang, Catherine Kim, Lawrence Kogos, Chris Lee, Lauren Rosenblum, Robin Shapiro, Kevin Song, Holden Steinhauer, and Andrew Verri

III. Business of the Day

Training and help session feedback/ Quiz review/ Budget hearings sign-ups

L. Rosenblum started off the meeting by asking the commission how they felt about the mandatory quizzes, and what they could improve upon.

H. Steinhauer replied that he thought it was necessary to make him actually study the guidelines. He suggested adding a hypothetical budget.

K. Song agreed that including a mock budget in the quiz would improve the quality of the quiz.

L. Rosenblum added that having a take-home mock budget quiz might be another option.

J. Frank asked if it was possible to create a test that could be taken online.

L. Rosenblum said that the tests used to be online two years ago, and was required for the treasurers and presidents of groups that were applying for funding. The commission decided to get rid of the test because it was just another hurdle that people had to go through to submit their application. She did not think that groups would use it if the test was made optional.

K. Song asked the commissioners for suggestions on improving help sessions. He noted that there were much fewer groups in attendance compared to last fall, but this is natural in the budget cycle.

L. Rosenblum said that there is a high volume of budgets this semester, about 420 in total. Usually there are 370 to 380 budgets submitted. She noted that there is also an increase in co-orgs coming through budget hearings.

L. Rosenblum then reviewed the quiz questions with the commissioners.

L. Rosenblum asked the commission to sign up for five out of the six budget hearing times. She reminded the commissioners that the budget hearings on Wednesday would be held in Rockefeller, on two separate floors, and to meet at B15. The budget hearings on Thursday and Friday will be held in Willard Straight Hall, at the Art Gallery and Music rooms, as usual.

L. Kogos asked the commissioners’ preferences for food during the budget hearings. K. Songs asked for any suggestions concerning the green reviewer forms.

A. Connors said that a column or box to check whether the budget is fully funded might be helpful.

IV. Meeting was adjourned at 5:35 pm.

Respectfully Submitted,
Valerie Pocus
SAFC Clerk, Office of the Assemblies