FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Organization Accounts
On-Campus Accounts
Off-Campus Accounts
Guidelines for Administration of Accounts
SAFAC Funding
HUPB Funding
HMU Programming Grant
Fundraising
Co-Sponsorship of Events

ORGANIZATION ACCOUNTS:

Each organization should designate a treasurer or an officer which assumes the duties of the treasurer.  The treasurer is in charge of the organization's finances and bookkeeping.  The treasurer should receive and bank all monies due the organization, pay all bills and report to the organization at each meeting.  Both the treasurer and the organization president should sign checks.  (Although these responsibilities are delegated to the officers of the organization it is the duty of the advisor to monitor the organization's accounts.)  All correspondence concerning organization finances is sent directly the advisor, who is to forward it to the appropriate organization officers.  This provides the advisor the opportunity to be aware of the organization's financial situation and prevent the organization from incurring a negative account balance.  We ask that organization officers or advisors make sure the names of authorized officers are changed with the bank, for off-campus accounts, as officer changes occur.

MnSCU and Bemidji State University have established guidelines for the administration of student organization accounts.  We ask that your organization follow these guidelines and direct any questions regarding them to the Associate Director, HMU.  University policy requires any student organization which receives student activity monies to establish an on-campus account and deposit the allocation into that account.  Organizations which do not receive allocations of student activity funds may also establish an on-campus account.  However, organizations with off-campus accounts with balances exceeding $500 must deposit the excess funds in an on-campus account. All newly organized groups are encouraged to establish an on-campus account ? no off campus accounts are allowed for any new organization. 

ON-CAMPUS ACCOUNTS:

Late Spring semester you will receive an Intent To Be Active Form for the academic year.  It is important that you fill out this form completely.  The section of the form pertaining to your organization account location is the way in which we become aware of which types of accounts your organization has.  Even if you have an on-campus account please indicate this and provide your account number.  All organizations  may establish on-campus accounts  Each month the advisors will receive a computerized account summary of your organization's on-campus account.  Please look over this statement to ensure that your organization maintains a positive account balance as well as to be sure it is accurate and free of any errors.

To draw funds out of an account on campus the treasurer must complete a Check Request Form (Sample Check Request Form available online) available from the HMU Information Desk.  The processing of this form takes 2-3 days- please plan ahead for your financial needs.  Benefits to having the account on campus include:

• Tax exempt status when purchases are made from a university account.
• The Check Request Form provides a record of all payments.
• The organization will not be required to complete a Monthly Financial Statement. 

The form must be signed by the requestor (organization member), advisor and then brought to the Associate Director, HMU for his/her signature.  It will be delivered to the Accounting Services Office for processing.  The check should be ready to be picked up at the Cashiers Office located in Deputy Hall within 2-3 days.

OFF-CAMPUS ACCOUNTS:

If your organization has an off-campus account it is important that you inform us of this on the account location section of the Intent To Be Active Form which is emailed to all presidents and advisors at the end of Spring semester.  Please include the name of the bank and account number at which your account is located.  It is necessary that both the organization treasurer and organization president/chair sign all organization checks.  We also recommend that arrangements be made to have all account statements from the bank sent to the organization advisor to ensure financial continuity.  It is the duty of the organization officers or advisor to make sure that the names of current officers are updated with the bank.  Because these accounts are in off-campus facilities the Associate Director, HMU cannot do this for you.  The organization is responsible for this account just as an individual is responsible for a personal account. 

Clubs with off-campus accounts must file a Monthly Financial Statement each month (Sample Monthly Financial Statement Form available online). The forms may be obtained from the HMU Information Desk.  They must then be filled out by the organization and returned to the Associate Director where they are kept on file.  Please note that if your off-campus account balance exceeds $500 you are required to deposit the balance over $500 in an on-campus account. It's a policy of MnSCU and the Business Office and we are responsible for upholding it. In the event a special circumstance or period of time is needed where your off campus account would need to exceed $500, please contact the HMU Associate Director.  If your organization has both an on and off campus account you must still file a Monthly Financial Statement for off-campus accounts each month.  Do not include information for your on-campus account on this form.  You will receive a computerized account summary for that account.

GUIDELINES FOR ADMINISTRATION OF STUDENT ORGANIZATION ACCOUNTS

MnSCU, along with Bemidji State University, have established guidelines for the administration of student organization accounts.  The guidelines have been divided into two parts and are stated below.  We ask that your organization follow these guidelines and direct any questions regarding them to the Associate Director, Hobson Memorial Union.

1. State University System Policy
1. Purpose
1. This policy provides the basis by which the State Universities shall provide for the effective fiscal management of student organization accounts within the university activity fund and through agency accounts.
2. Policy
1. A student organization which receives allocations of student activity monies shall deposit and expend all allocations and other income through an account within the university activity fund.  (Note:  No agency accounts or off-campus accounts are permitted for these student groups.)
2. Student groups recognized as official organizations through a University's internal process shall deposit all funds in excess of $500 per year which are earned as the result of full or partial use of University facilities, equipment, material and personnel in an agency account in the University activity fund.
3. Student organizations which do not receive student activity allocations and earn less than $500 per year as a result of full or partial use of University facilities, equipment, material and personnel may elect to establish either an agency account within the university activity fund.  The establishment of such agency accounts shall be at the university's discretion.  The Associate Director must have the account numbers on file.
2. Bemidji State University Policies/Procedures
1. Student organizations that are required or permitted to have on-campus accounts shall deposit all income into the appropriate account.
2. The accounts of all student organizations are subject to monthly review by the University. The following procedure will be used:
1. The HMU Associate Director will receive monthly computer print-outs of all student organization agency accounts.                         
2. Those organizations with off-campus accounts are required to submit monthly financial statements, specifying expenditures and income to the Associate Director. 
3. Fund transfers between accounts or object codes must be approved by the student organization advisor and the Associate Director, HMU.
   
4. The equipment purchase of the student activity funded student organizations must be approved by SAFAC (Student Activity Fee Allocation Committee) and the Vice-President for Administrative Affairs.  Equipment purchases will normally only be approved in special situations, usually when SAFAC initiates or invites such purchases. 
5. Requests for equipment purchases from agency accounts must be forwarded to the Associate Director, HMU.  The Associate Director will submit the request to the appropriate Vice-President.
   
6. Student activity funded organizations/activities shall specify all sources and amounts of projected income at the time of their budget requests.
   
7. The student organization advisor shall be responsible for informing the organization of relevant University policies including those in the Student Organizations Manual, the Student Guide/Planner and Student Activities Fee Allocation Committee Handbook. It is then the responsibility of the student organization to comply with those policies.
   Failure to do so may result in any or all of the following sanctions:
   
   1. A freeze on the account(s).
   2. Loss of future funding by SAFAC.
   3. Loss of the use of University facilities.
   4. Loss of recognition status.

SAFAC FUNDING (Student Activities Fee & Allocation Committee Funding):

An organization's budget often determines the extent and nature of the given organization's activity.  Fund raising is often an important activity for any organization.  The university recognizes that it is often necessary to have an operating budget in order to attract members and begin fund raising activities; for this reason organizations may apply for SAFAC funding through the HMU Associate Director's office.  This is an annual application process coordinated by SAFAC.

Organizations not funded by SAFAC for a given year are eligible for operational monies each year.  This funding is not granted automatically.  Organizations must have an updated Intent to be Active form on file by the fall deadline each year to be eligible. Organizations may receive this funding once at the beginning of fall semester of each academic year.  If the operational monies are not used by the end of the fiscal year, it will be reabsorbed by SAFAC. 

HUPB FUNDING (Hobson Union Programming Board):

SAFAC has designated a sum of money to be used to support activities sponsored by recognized campus organizations which do not receive major funding from SAFAC.  This account is administered by HUPB with all requests for funding going through this Board.  HUPB will follow the guidelines stated below in reviewing all requests.

• A request must not exceed a total of $500.00.
• The program must be sponsored by a Student Senate recognized campus organization which does not receive major funding from SAFAC.
• The request must be presented to HUPB a minimum of fourteen (14) days prior to the event.
• The Special Request Form must be completely filled out to be considered. 
• A representative from the requesting organization must present the Special Request to the Hobson Union Programming Board.
• Money will not be allocated to fund raffles ? contact Associate Director, HMU.
• Money will not be allocated to send students to attend conferences, workshops, or retreats.
• An event evaluation and financial statement including all expenses and income must be submitted to the Hobson Union Programming Board following the program.
• Advertising MUST include "Co-Sponsored by HUPB, SAFAC Funded".  Advertising must not be done prior to the request being approved by HUPB.
• The activity must be open to all university students and be held on the University or within the Bemidji community.

HMU Programming Grant

Many of you may be aware that the University has established three signature themes, these being:

1. Civic Engagement
2. Global and Multicultural Citizenship
3. Environmental Stewardship
   

These themes were designated by President Quistgaard as a way of helping to focus our programs and endeavors on areas which would benefit our students both during their time at BSU as well as upon graduation.

The Union is allocating additional program dollars for those groups which are interested in sponsoring programs which relate to any of the areas listed above:  the signature themes, a late night or weekend program, or a new event which is taking place in the Union.  Program support for each event will up to $250.00 and a short funding application will be available at the Information Desk or online for those groups interested in accessing these funds.  So, put on your creative thinking caps and if there's a program out there that your group would like to do and the Union can be a catalyst to helping to make it happen, let us know.  If you've got questions, please let us know at bsuclubandorg@bemidjistate.edu or 755-3760.

FUNDRAISING:

Student organizations are allowed to raise funds to meet the financial needs of their organization.  Members of the organization should adhere to the following guidelines in regards to fundraising.

• A Fundraising Application must be submitted and approved by the Student Senate, HMU Associate Director and BSU Foundation, before the event is finalized and publicity started.  Fundraising Application forms may be picked up at the HMU Information Desk, Student Senate Office or on the HMU website.  The Fundraising Application must be submitted to the Student Senate no later than two weeks prior to the event.  This applies whether the event is held on or off campus.  It takes approximately 7-10 business days to process a request, please plan ahead. 
• The University prohibits off-campus agencies or individuals, University employees or students to engage in any form of on-campus solicitation that relates to the personal gain/profit of the solicitor.
• The facility or area should be reserved prior to publicizing the event.  To reserve rooms anywhere on campus or table spaces in the Lower Hobson Union contact the Scheduling Office, HMU or via email at scheduling@bemidjistate.edu . 
• Food-related sales must be approved and coordinated through Assistant Director (Scheduling Office), HMU.  To arrange for food service contact the ARAMARK offices in Walnut Dining Hall or call 444-7576.
• Organizations must comply with State and University regulations regarding the use and consumption of alcohol.
• The University supports the concept of fund raising for student organizations; however, University endorsement for special activities is not implied.
• If a service is being purchased or rented such as a guest speaker, movie, band, etc. a contract should be used.  Contracts are available from the Associate Director, HMU.  All contracts must be signed by the Vice President for Administrative Affairs or designee.

RAFFLES:

Before you make decisions/plans on holding a raffle, please contact either the Associate Director, HMU or Director of Accounting Services - Deputy 201 (755-2014) for additional information or guidance. 

CO-SPONSORSHIP OF EVENTS:

If a Bemidji State University student organization decides to co-sponsor an event with an outside agency the BSU organization must be actively involved in the event and the event must be in keeping with the purpose of the student organization.  Prior to entering a co-sponsorship, a written agreement should be completed which addresses the responsibilities of each organization.  Due to liabilities which may arise, student organizations are strongly urged not to co-sponsor events with outside agencies.