Campus organizations presented requests to receive Services and Activities Fee funding with several groups factoring in losses caused by COVID-19.

To receive S&A Fee funding, nonacademic student groups must present to a committee with a proposed funding request and plans on allocating the money. The committee discussed in early April and will craft a recommendation to the Board of Regents for where the funds should be distributed. 

The Regents will review the proposals in May for approval or rejection of the requests. 

For the 2020-21 school year, $9.5 million was allocated for WSU organizations, such as ASWSU, the Children’s Center and University Recreation. 

Access Center and Cougar Accessible Transportation Services

As a student requiring accommodations for classes, Mikayla Beckley worked closely with the Access Center. When she saw the Disabled Students and Allies Club needed people for their leadership team, she stepped up as vice president.

Beckley, senior majoring in genetics and cellular biology, said the Access Center and Disabled Students and Allies Club requested $45,500 in S&A funding.

The Access Center provides student accommodations and awareness programming, such as alternative testing, assistive technology and an annual Disability Awareness Symposium.

Beckley said the symposium was postponed last year and held virtually March 29 through April 2 because of COVID-19. S&A funding would support the next symposium for speaker costs and catering services. The symposium is estimated to cost around $20,000 because of speaker fees, catering, live streaming and room reservations.

“We want to be able to offer these resources for students, especially those within the disability community,” she said. “Without S&A funding, they won’t feel included, they won’t feel empowered and we will lose them entirely.”

To hire one to three interns, the center requires $5,500 in funding. Because of COVID-19, only one intern was hired for fall semester, Beckley said.

The Cougar Accessible Transportation Services program offers rides around campus for students with permanent or temporary mobility challenges, she said. Up to four student employees transport passengers five days a week.

The $75,000 requested budget would pay salaries and benefits for the transportation coordinator and student staff. The funding would also cover the cost of fuel and vehicle maintenance.

ASWSU Executive

The ASWSU Executive team requested $288,032 to cover student wages, events and parking at the University Recreation Center, said Alexander Pan, fourth-year finance, accounting and economics major and ASWSU vice president-elect.

“COVID-19 has obviously taken its toll on what you can do and what we can spend money on,” he said. “I think this next year will be exciting to ramp up our projects again.” 

The executive team asked for a one-time expense of $35,000 to cover parking fees at the UREC, Pan said. 

Typically, profit generated from sales at the Bookie funds around $60,000 for ASWSU and allows free parking at the UREC, he said. This year, the organization received $18,000. 

“Unfortunately, if we don’t get the full funding, we also might have to reconsider where the money is allocated,” Pan said.

Before the pandemic, ASWSU would cover expenses so students could lobby in Olympia for a weekend, Pan said. This year, the group asked for $9,000 to fund the event.

He said S&A fees allow 22 student employees to work for Cougar Choice Housing, Student Legal Services, ASWSU and KZUU. Student wages equal about $129,000.

Throughout the semester, executive team members plan events to engage students, like Restaurant Week, COVID-19 care kits and the multicultural banquet, Pan said.

“Projects will be up to the different ASWSU directors,” he said. “I look forward to a lot of safety and health projects, as well as Academic Affairs projects.”

Cougar Marching Band

Because of COVID-19, membership for the Cougar Marching Band is down to fewer than 100 participants, compared to the normal 250-plus students, said Taylr Judkins, senior kinesiology major and band president.

Judkins said she joined the marching band in 2018 to continue her love for color guard.

The band is requesting $247,400 for the school year, she said. Last year, the group was granted $221,075.

Several students, many of whom live out of state, opted to stay home and discontinue participating in the band, Judkins said. 

In return, the band had fewer expenses, she said. They were not performing for football games so meals and travel did not need to be covered. Costume and uniform upkeep expenses also decreased.

The need for 20 new trombones has been in the works for the past couple of years, she said. The total adds up to $45,000. 

“They just get old,” Judkins said. “You can only upkeep them for so long before it’s time to throw in the towel and get new ones.”

The band and color guard practice either three or four days a week for two hours each practice, she said. 

Band members receive a stipend after a sporting season finishes, Judkins said. First-year participants are awarded $200, then an extra $100 for every year in the program. 

“Those funds are what bring our members back,” she said. “It’s a way of them saying, I’m struggling financially but knowing that I’m doing something I love and I’m going to get something back from this.”

Requests for 2021-22:

• The Compton Union Building plans to increase facility hours of operation and the number of staff to the same level as before COVID-19. The organization hopes to receive $1.47 million from S&A Fees.
• University Recreation requested $1.07 million in hopes of returning to offering full programming, as well as pay maintenance fees for using Bohler, the Fieldhouse and Smith Gym.
• The ASWSU Senate requested $120,500. The Senate will reallocate $58,000 to smaller organizations on campus through the Crimson and Gray fund.
• ASWSU Senate Programming asked for $347,053 to split among 17 student organizations, like Cable 8, Black Student Union, MEChA and the Election Board.
• WSU Athletics requested $400,000 as a one-time request to pay about 350 student workers.
• The Center for Civic Engagement hopes to receive $299,659 in funding.
• The WSU Children’s Center requested $404,516 to pay salaries, as well as reduce the cost of child care for student parents by at least 20 percent.
• Cougar Health Services would fund two full-time employees, two graduate assistants and student hourly wages with a requested $268,696.
• The Coalition of Women Students asked for $166,668 to support resources, such as Rosario’s Place and Harpy*s Magazine.
• GPSA requested $514,304 to reallocate funds to other Registered Student Organizations, support travel grants and pay salaries.
• The Student Entertainment Board would use $433,396 for student events and student wages.
• Student Involvement financially supports over 400 student groups. They requested $909,574.
• Student Media is made up of The Daily Evergreen newsroom, Chinook yearbook, creative and advertising. About 70 percent of the requested $230,216 would fund student wages. 
• To continue providing bus routes for students, the Transit Advisory Group asked for $522,922. For fiscal year 2020, they provided 1.1 million free rides for students.