Apply for funding

• About SAFB

  Student Activities Funding Board (SAFB) is a student board that allocates funds to student organizations for student activities that enhance campus life. Funding may be requested by any registered student organization that is planning an event which will be free, open to all students and the public, and occur on-campus. These include social events, seminars, guest lectures, workshops, cultural performances, film screenings, instructional presentations, and more!

  Program Categories

  • Cultural/Identity – events that highlight or showcase identity and/or culture
  • Faculty Engagement – events that engage students with WSU faculty
  • Professional Development – events where students learn new skills
  • Social – events that engage students with each other in positive ways to build relationships and deepen campus connections
  • Wellness – events that educate students on making positive choices regarding health and well-being
• Approved events by semester

  Fall 2018 (PDF)

  Winter 2019 (PDF)

• 2019-20 dates and deadlines

  Event date is on or after	Proposal deadline	SAFB meeting date
  August 28	July 31 at noon	August 1
  September 15	August 14 at noon	August 15
  October 5	September 4 at noon	September 5
  October 19	September 18 at noon	September 19
  November 3	October 2 at noon	October 3
  November 17	October 16 at noon	October 17
  December 7	November 6 at noon	November 7
  December 21	November 21 at noon	November 21
  January 5	December 4 at noon	December 5
  January 19	December 18 at noon	December 19
  February 9	January 8 at noon	January 9
  February 16	January 15 at noon	January 16
  March 6	February 5 at noon	February 6
  March 20	February 19 at noon	February 20
  April 5	March 4 at noon	March 5
  April 19 and fall 2020 semester	March 18 at noon	March 19

  Late proposals will not be accepted

  Non-eligible event dates

  No events will be approved during university breaks, closures and/or finals periods, or the evening preceding any of these periods, as follows:

  • September 2, 2019
  • November 27-30, 2019
  • December 9, 2019 through January 5, 2020
  • January 20, 2020
  • March 6, 2020 through March 15, 2020
  • April 21, 2020 through September 1, 2020
• Minimum requirements for funding

  All events and proposals must meet the following minimum requirements, or they will be excluded from consideration:

  • Event is free, on-campus, and open to any student and the public
  • Student organization is recognized on Get Involved
  • If the proposal is over $500, meet with the Coordinator for Student Organization Programs

  Required documents for funding proposals

  • Student Center Graphics invoice
    • All printed materials must use the approved SAFB Logos
  • Technology Invoice
  • Space reservation confirmation
    • Community Arts Auditorium, St. Andrew’s Hall, Mort Harris Recreation Center
• Approval process

  SAFB only meets on the dates listed in the “Dates and deadlines” section. Student organizations receive notification of approval or denial within three business days of the SAFB meeting dates. Communication about the proposal and event will only occur with the student who submitted the request. Event proposals may be approved in-full, in-part, not at all, or deferred depending on volume.

  Funding decisions are based on the following criteria:

  • Estimated costs (total and individual line items)
  • Estimated attendance
  • Event date
  • Adherence to guidelines/deadlines
  • Group capacity to plan event
  • Impact on campus life
  • Inclusivity of all students and the public
  • Number of proposals submitted per group
  • Similar events already approved

  Why events/expenses get denied

  The following is a non-exhaustive list of why events may be denied in part or completely:

  • Group did not meet with the coordinator when the event was over $500
  • Proposal requests a date for funding that is outside the deadline
  • Funding was requested for an item that cannot be approved
  • DOSO cannot confirm the legitimacy of a requested vendor’s services
  • Requested amount for vendor compensation is not fair market value for comparable services
  • Cost is too high
  • Too many similar events are already occurring
  • Group has applied for funding an excessive number of times
  • Event is non-inclusive and/or does not clearly describe the impact on campus life
  • Group did not adhere to policies and/or guidelines
  • Date of event conflicts with another major campus event

  Appeals process

  In the event that your proposal is denied, you have the option to meet with the coordinator prior to the next SAFB meeting to discuss resubmission, in accordance with posted deadlines. If your proposal is denied a second time, you may file a written appeal in writing within five days with the coordinator. The coordinator will discuss with the Dean of Students and provide a response within five days of receipt of the appeal.

• Fundable and non-fundable event expenses

  Fundable Expenses

  • Vendors, speakers, or performers
  • Film screenings
  • Printed materials through Student Center Graphics
  • SAFB food packages with WSU Dining
  • Space reservation (Community Arts, St. Andrews Hall, Mort Harris Rec. Center)
  • Decorations and supplies (up to $200)
  • Technology (WSU Media Services, WSU Student Center, Sound Planning, Performance Staging, Blue Water Technologies)
  • WSU Public Safety

  Non-Fundable Expenses

  • Decorations/supplies cost exceeding $200
  • Reimbursements for any purchase made prior to SAFB approval
  • Luncheons, student organization meetings, fundraisers and private events
  • Trophies, awards, gifts, and giveaways such as pens, t-shirts, etc.
  • Rush orders for last minute printing/graphics services
  • Conference registration, membership dues and travel
  • Photography and videography of any kind
  • Any event that conflicts with major campus events and programming
  • Events that take place during finals, break periods, university closures, or spring/summer terms, or the night preceding any of these times
  • Events where the primary audience is not current Wayne State students
  • Vendors that cannot prove fair-market value for their services
  • Events publicized prior to receiving SAFB approval
• Funding maximums

  Student organizations may have up to three proposals approved per semester. Events cannot exceed $5,000 in contracted services (excluding technology).

• Food policy

  Each organization may have food approved one time per year for one event for snacks and refreshments. If requesting food for an event, you may select from one of the following food packages:

  Food Packages TBA

  Outside food, reimbursements, and substitutions will not be covered.

• Reimbursements

  Receipts and paperwork for any reimbursement must be submitted to DOSO within 60 calendar days of the approved event date. No exceptions will be made for late receipts and paperwork. All receipts must be the original receipt from the vendor/store. If an invoice is provided, it must be marked paid and include the name of person making the payment, method of payment and date of payment.

• Vendor information

  All vendors must provide their own contract to the Coordinator via email within 10 calendar days of the approval notification. Contracts will be forward to legal counsel for review and approval. DOSO reserves the right to refuse contracting any vendor that does not adhere to the timeline, or acts in a way that is disruptive to normal business operations.

  Vendors should be aware of these policies related to contracting with the University:

  • All travel expenses must be incorporated into a flat fee for services being provided
  • Payment will be made in full at the time of services, not before
  • Deposits will not be honored
  • Reimbursements for event cancellations will not be provided
  • Wayne State University is not responsible for any damages to vendor supplied equipment
  • If a vendor is providing physical entertainment or equipment, the vendor must staff it for safety reasons
  • Current students cannot serve as contracted vendors
  • All correspondence regarding contracts and documentation must occur with and through the DOSO coordinator

  In addition to vendor contracts, individuals and businesses will be required to complete a W9 if services have not been provided to the University previously. Businesses and other entities are also required to complete a New Vendor Form. These documents will be requested after an event is approved by the Coordinator via email to the vendor.

• Serving on SAFB

  SAFB consists of student involved on-campus who represent different backgrounds at Wayne State. Applications for SAFB open up every April for the following academic year, with interviews and selection occurring in May. SAFB candidates must apply online and interview for the position with a committee composed of staff and students. SAFB is guided by the strategic plan of the University.

  Applicants must meet the minimum following requirements:

  • Be in good standing with the University
  • Have an earned cumulative GPA of 2.50, and maintain that for the academic year
  • Have earned at least 24 undergraduate credits or 12 graduate credits at Wayne State
  • Be available for fall semester meetings on Thursdays from 4 to 6 p.m.
  • Not hold a leadership position simultaneously with Campus Activities Team

  Responsibilities of SAFB Members

  • Attend SAFB meetings as scheduled
  • Attend 1-2 SAFB approved events per month
  • Attend 1:1 meetings with DOSO coordinator
  • Complete a mid-semester evaluation each semester

  Students serving on the board are provided an activity award at the beginning of Fall and Winter semesters. Failure to meet the responsibilities laid out here may result in the student refunding the award to the University.

  The application for the 2020-21 academic year will open in April 2020.