For the first time in its 13-year history, the University Park Allocation Committee (UPAC) will open its policy and allocation meetings to the public.
UPAC Chairman Mark Donovan said while he cannot speculate as to why the meetings were closed in the past, he and the rest of the organization feel it will be beneficial to make meetings accessible to everyone.
Students now have the opportunity to see how the Student Activity Fee allocation process works, Donovan (junior-political science and communication arts and sciences) said, including UPAC's formerly private deliberation sessions.
UPAC also plans to create an expedited budget review process that would put the use of student funds on "the fast track," Donovan said.
The committee currently has about $3.2 million in funds, but final numbers will not be available until enrollment for the spring semester is released.
Allocation by UPAC can fall under four categories -- programming, travel, equipment and media -- and includes things like entertainment coming to the Bryce Jordan Center, events hosted by the Student Programming Association (SPA) and spring break service trips.
The money is allocated on a first-come, first-served basis, Donovan said.
Donovan said he feels UPAC has been accountable for its allocations in the past -- records of where the money goes have always been public.
But, the new policy will "open up the process to the university," he said.
Donovan said UPAC holds meetings every Tuesday, but allocations won't be dispersed until the spring semester.
University Park Undergraduate Association (UPUA) Student Life and Diversity Chairman Christian Ragland also sits on UPAC. He said that from a student government standpoint and as a member of the allocation committee, he is glad to see these meetings become open.
"We have to remember -- the money is the students' money," Ragland (junior-political science) said. "I think the only way to be effective with allocating money is by allowing students to see where it is going."
SPA Director of Finance Conlan Boyer said he is unsure of how much student interest there will be in the internal operations of UPAC.
But, Boyer (senior-accounting) said, it will now be possible for members of student groups like SPA to see how UPAC makes its funding decisions.
