Campus Policies

Scope

This policy impacts all student organizations supported by Fund A, the student, faculty, and staff members of the Student Activities Budget Commission, the Gateway, Maverick Productions,  the Student Government Association, the Associate Vice Chancellor for Division of Student Life and Wellbeing, and the Chancellor.

Policy Statement

UNO is committed to complying with all Board of Regent’s and University policies and procedures related to the use, distribution, and collection of University Programming and Facilities (UPF) Fund A fees.  This policy describes the allocation of Fund A on the UNO campus as well as providing some guidance on its use in compliance with applicable University policies.

Reason for Policy

This policy exists to demonstrate compliance at the campus level with Board of Regents.

Procedures

I. Distribution

a. Allocation of Fund A monies is restricted to the following three organizations : the Student Government Association, Maverick Productions, and The Gateway.

b. Fund A monies may not be distributed to student groups or student organizations that are not established by and under the direct control of the Student Government Association.

c. Fund A monies may be used for:

i. Student activities, services, events, functions, and associated promotional materials (collectively “Student Activities”) which benefit a broad based student population, such as a variety of students from various academic disciplines, interests and activities, abilities and skills, or life experiences.

1. Factors considered in determining whether Student Activities benefit a broad based student population can include, but is not limited to:
   • whether a significant segment of the student population has the opportunity to benefit from the Student Activities
   • whether Student Activities occur during the academic school year;
   • whether Student Activities occur at an approved location;
   • whether Student Activities are provided at a free or reduced rate; and
   • whether Student Activities are advertised in a manner to reach the student population.

ii. Wages for services performed;

iii. Operating expenses for the direct benefit of the following campus organizations: Student Government Association, Maverick Productions, and The Gateway.

iv. Student Activities which advance the educational mission of the University by putting before the University community a broad range of ideas on a variety of contexts and is not to advance any particular viewpoint.

v. Grants to student groups and student organizations for programming needs as outlined in “e” of this section.

vi. Sponsorship of speakers in accordance with Regent Policy 5.6.1.

d. Fund A monies may not be used for:

i. Academic programs or functions directly related to academic programs;

ii. Payment to individuals; except in the form of wages for services performed;

iii. Charitable contributions;

iv. Lobbying or support of ballot initiatives, political campaigns, or political candidates;

v. Gift Cards or cash equivalents;

vi. Any purpose which does not comply with University policy and procedures and/or federal, state, and local laws.

 

e. Grants of Fund A Monies for Programming: Maverick Productions may make grants of Fund A monies to other student groups and student organizations to support the programming needs of such groups and organizations. Such grants may only be made on a one fiscal year basis; may be made only with the approval of the cognizant Chancellor or designee; may not be expended for wages, capital equipment, office supplies, or travel; and may not be granted to a single organization more than once in a two-year period. Any non-capital equipment purchased pursuant to this process shall remain under control of the student government or the recognized campus programming organization and made available for use as determined by student government and/or the recognized campus programming organization. Student governments and/or the recognized campus student programming organization may not consider the point of view advanced by the requesting student groups and student organizations when determining whether to approve a grant permitted under this section.

 

II. Student Activities Budget Commission Process

a. Fund A requests are submitted by Student Government (SGA), Maverick Productions, and the Gateway to the Student Government Association Budget Director who is designated “Chief Commissioner and annually convenes the Student Activities Budget Commission (SABC), which is comprised of nine students and three faculty/staff members. Fund A dollars are allocated only once per year based on the final recommendations from SABC. SABC may provide Fund A allocations to The Gateway, Maverick Productions, and Student Government.

b. Members of the SABC Commission are selected as follows:

i. Three Student Senators appointed by the SGA Director of Finance with consent of the Student Senate by simple majority.

ii. Three students-at-large appointed by the SGA with consent of the Student Senate by simple majority.

iii. Three students-at-large and three faculty and/or staff members

c. The funding priorities are decided upon by the student leaders of each requesting organization in conjunction with their faculty/staff advisors.

d. Hearing dates for the initial meetings of the SABC established to allocate fees shall be published in The Gateway (or appropriate campus news media) ten (10) days prior to such hearings with costs being defrayed by the UPFF allocation to The Gateway, and a tentative allocation shall be published in The Gateway (or appropriate campus news media). This published information shall include the salaries, the operating budgets, and the capital expenditures of all groups receiving fee funding. The cost will be dealt with as above, and coinciding with the publication of the tentative allocation, there shall be a publication of the final hearing dates of the SABC.

e. The requesting groups make presentations before SABC outlining their requests, providing justification, and reviewing their past spending history. SABC members are given the opportunity to question the requesting groups. These hearings are open to the public, but only the members of SABC and the requesting organizations are permitted to speak. 

f. After a final hearing, the fees allocation body shall draw up the final allocation proposal to be submitted to Student Senate for approval; after such approval by Student Senate, the final allocation shall be published in The Gateway (or appropriate campus news media). 

g. During Student Government elections, the student body votes to approve the allocation of funds to SGA, the Gateway and , as well as any funds designated for salaries for Student Government officers. 

h. Following the student body approval, the Fund A allocation document is then sent to the Associate Vice Chancellor for Division of Student Life and Wellbeing and the Chancellor for approval. 

i. Maverick Productions is able to provide recognized student organizations with grants to support their programming efforts. Maverick Productions requests funding through SABC and has its own approval committee/process to handle these grant requests

j. Redistribution  of Fund A monies among categories within the student programming organizations may be accomplished only with the approval of the cognizant chancellor.

III. Non-Fund A Monies for Fund A supported groups

a. The UNO Gateway does have the ability to create additional revenue through advertising. Any non-Fund A revenue must be deposited with the UNO MBSC Business Office, and it must be accounted for in a different account from Fund A. The UNO Gateway must communicate deposits and expenses appropriately following all MBSC Business Office procedures, so they are posted to the correct account appropriately. 

b. Pursuant to Board of Regents Policy 5.9.7, with the approval of the Chancellor, SGA, The Gateway, and Maverick Productions may fundraise. Any fundraising efforts must be solicited, collected, deposited, and disbursed in accordance with established University policies, and may only be used in support of the student organization, office, or group by which the contributions were solicited.

c. Any monies held, whether through fundraising or collected revenue, must be disclosed to the Student Activities Budget Commission during the annual fee allocation as part of documentation submitted for the groups annual budget. This includes any reserves held by the organization. 

IV. Fund A Refunds

1. Students can request a refund of their University Program and Facility Fees – Fund A Fee for the first 30 days of each term. Individuals should refer to the UNO Cashiering and Student Accounts website for more information. 

Definitions

Fund A: the portion of UPF Fees designated for student activities which are managed by student groups that shall be distributed according to an annual budget developed by Student Government. (RP-5.9.1(b)).

Student Activities Budget Commission (SABC): the UNO body that is made up of students and faculty/staff who recommend to the Student Senate an annual budget for the Fund A portion of the University Program and Facilities Fee (UPFF) annually in accordance with BOR Policy 5.9.3(c).

Related Information

General policies governing the administration of Student Fees are set forth in §5.9 of the Board of Regents Policies of the University of Nebraska

Student Fee Administration

History

Policy approved by the Chancellor’s Cabinet on August 15, 2017.  This policy codifies what has been practice at the University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO), but does not replace any existing policy.

Reviewed and updated on July 9, 2025 to correspond with the revisions made to RP 5.9.1 approved by the Board of Regents on February 7, 2025.