SGA presented suggestions on how upper administration can respond to student dissatisfaction over budget cuts. SGA also provided an overview of the 2025-26 school year to Chancellor Jennifer Sobanet and Vice Chancellor of Strategic Initiatives and Operations Robin Parent at their final meeting of the semester on April 23.
They also voted on the 2026-27 SGA budget and new funding guidelines.
Senate presentation: student concerns
SGA Vice President Isabella Polombo presented how upper administration can respond to students that feeling that like there is minimal communication and transparency about the university-wide budget cuts.
She stressed that how information is communicated is more important than when it’s communicated, suggesting forms alternative to emails.
The senate said that information needs to be put in physical and online spaces that students already occupy, like lounge spaces and social media.
On the note of social media, Walat Gozeh, the speaker of the senate, suggested administration post reels, even just to tell students that more definitive communications are coming.
Polombo said student leaders need to be trained to serve as communication bridges between students and upper administration.
The Senate also discussed career opportunities and classroom retention.
“A lot of our students complain very often about not seeing enough network connections, or not enough connections towards their career,” Polombo said. “This also encompasses when our graduate students are doing their fellowships or internships.”
Bri Maddox, a student-at-large, emphasized the importance of creating engaging classrooms and targeting professor burn-out.
Senate presentation: 2025-26 overview
Over the 2025-26 school year, SGA passed 19 bills and resolutions, supported 206 clubs and upheld six UCCS traditions, including the bonfire, winter formal, friendsgiving, Light the Spine and fall and spring concerts, according to Gozeh.
There was also a 51% increase in attendance for ROAR week events, with the caveats that they held four more events and counted non-student guests this year.
According to the Director of Finance Josh Mattias, BAC allocated $171,996 to 85 clubs and organizations. Out of the 151 proposals the committee received, 114 were approved.
Mattias explained that proposals are rejected if they do not follow guidelines or if the committee decides the allocation would not benefit students or the campus.
According to Maddox, 858 students voted in the recent SGA election, which is similar to previous elections.
2026-27 budget
SGA’s finalized budget of $691,000 for the next school year was unanimously approved at the Budget Advisory Committee (BAC) on April 21.
According to Mattias, the major budget allocations are:
- $170,000 for clubs and organizations
- $165,019 for Student Life operations
- $75,000 for the student concert
- $48,620 for Clyde’s Cupboard
- $41,300 for Senate events and bills
The budget also includes pay for senators and BAC committee members, which is $36,420 and $3,360.
Revised funding guidelines
Mattias presented a handful of revisions to BAC guidelines and procedures intended to clarify the process and better check funding requests. The amendments were unanimously approved.
Amendments include that clubs are not allowed to donate their funds to another club or organization, although they can co-host events and pool their resources, all requests must include tax-exempt pricing, and funds must be used within two weeks of the event they’re requested for or by commencement, whichever is sooner.
If funds are not used within that time, they are returned to BAC funds.
BAC can also now take a club’s previous funding requests or fundraising efforts into account when discussing their proposal. Similarly, clubs can request general club funding for ROAR days events, however, it will be added to the club’s yearly funding request for future consideration.
ROAR days funding can only be used on ROAR events and are not included in yearly requests.
In other news:
- The Senate passed a bill allocating $436 to two Korean language classes, so they can have an immersive cultural experience at a Korean restaurant. According to Gozeh, the trips were originally funded by LAS, but the program only received $75 this year due to budget cuts.
Graphic via the Scribe archive.