On Sept. 23, the Auburn University SGA met and approved a new student activity budget for fiscal year 2024–2025. The budget is approximately $2.5 million and will be distributed among student organizations and programs.
Members of the student senate presented and approved the new allocations, which were all accepted without debate. The beginning of the 2024–2025 fiscal year is Oct. 1, 2024.
The University Program Council got the largest allocation of funds, with $832,157.50 being approved. However, the approved budget is approximately $164,000 less than the last year's budget request of $996,370.
- Executive: $236,500.00
- Special events: $235,000.00
- Interactive events: $103,000.00
- Holidays and traditions: $98,200.00
- Live entertainment: $65,500.00
- Films: $45,000.00
- Pop up events: $27,200.00
- Marketing: $14,000.00
- Student stipends: $7,757.50
The Student Involvement Administration gained the second largest allocation, with $515,776.24 being approved. The Student Involvement administration saw approximately a $128,000 increase compared to last year's budget request.
Student Involvement Administration funds will be spent on a wide range of expenses, from student worker wages to the Miss Auburn University Pageant. Communications and marketing is the largest category of the Student Involvement Administration to get funds, with $112,000 being allocated their way.
The SGA received the next largest distribution of funds at $349,552.50. Fourteen categories comprise SGA's budget, with seven of the categories being given $10,000 or more.
- Graduate and professional schools: $131,550.00
- Athletic programming: $51,300.00
- Aubie: $50,000.00
- Hey Day: $50,000
- Student Stipends: $27,552.50
- Communications and marketing: $10,000.00
- Miss Auburn: $10,000.00
Auburn’s student organizations received $162,442.50, $150,000 of which will go into a generalized student organization fund.
The International Student Organization received a separate allocation of $114,342.50, an increase of more than $11,000 from last year. Peace Dinners received $30,000 and ISO's social hours received $50,000.
The Black Student Union will be allocated $89,442.50, which is $39,000 less than what BSU requested for the 2023–2024 fiscal year. Last year, BSU requested $128,475.92.
The final large categories are student media and service programs, which will receive $220,827.49 and $165,610.50, respectively.
Student media groups WEGL Radio, Eagle Eye TV, The Glomerata and The Auburn Circle each received funds from the student media and service programs budget.
- The Glomerata: $95,399.50
- Eagle Eye TV: $53,449.49
- WEGL Radio: $39,238.00
- The Auburn Circle: $32,740.50
The Service Programs budget covers the Auburn University Dance Marathon, Beat Bama Food Drive, IMPACT and General Service Programs.
- BBFD: $65,000.00
- IMPACT: $57,500.00
- General Service Programs: $25,110.50
- AUDM: $18,000.00
Will Goodner, SGA's treasurer, commented on how the budget would affect student activity and well-being.
"The SGA budget for Fiscal Year '25 is poised to greatly enhance the student experience by expanding access to vital resources, upgrading campus facilities and strengthening financial and mental health support services. With a clear focus on student well-being and success, this year’s budget is set to foster a more dynamic and supportive environment, empowering students to excel both academically and personally," Goodner said.
Each enrolled student contributes to the student activity budget each fiscal year by paying a student activity fee each semester. In the 2023–2024 fiscal year, SGA used $2.4 million from student activity fees for the budget.
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Michaela Yielding is a senior in journalism currently serving as the news editor. She has been with The Auburn Plainsman since fall 2023.
