Money not only makes the world go around, but it also makes the club world turn at Notre Dame.
The Club Coordination Council (CCC), which oversees the allocation of student activities fees to the 223 undergraduate clubs at the University, is undergoing changes to make gaining club status easier, CCC president Paul Robbins said.
"In the past, clubs have had to fill out lengthy budget forms on paper, have them signed by their club advisor and handed in before spring break," Robbins said. This year, the group will use an online budget form.
The switch to online is designed to streamline the fund allocation process in several ways: reducing paperwork, allowing for better and more efficient allocations, and providing clubs with an electronic copy of their budget to help guide their spending through the year.
"In the future we will be able to make things even easier for clubs by having their advisors able to 'sign' their budget request online,' Robbins said. "This is all in an effort to make things easier and more efficient for clubs."
The role of the CCC is often overlooked, Robbins said.
"We hard-lined 33 percent of the activities fees last year; that turned out to be about $300,000," Robbins said. "Throughout the year we also review appeals to three different funds that are available for unplanned club expenses."
Funds under the umbrella of the CCC include the Contingency Fund, for a single club seeking additional funds; Club Collaboration Fund, for two or more clubs seeking funding for an event; and the Council of Representatives Collaboration Fund, for a club and another student body organization also seeking funding, Robbins said.
Clubs are grouped into subdivisions: academic, athletic, cultural, performing arts, social service and special interest, Robbins said. Each division can have up to four representatives elected from clubs within their division.
Elections for division representatives are occurring next week. Robbins said it is "important that students active in clubs join the council so that each division may be properly represented." Allocations for next year will be made in March.
