Ohio University student organizations can now benefit from a funding program that stems from high-risk decision makers.
Students can apply for the uFUND, a program created by the Division of Student Affairs to encourage new initiatives that oppose high-risk behavior. Students can apply to receive a share of $80,000 in judiciary fees that have been collected from students who have committed various offenses.
Jenny Hall-Jones, interim dean of students and adviser of the Judicial Fee Revenue Committee, said there is no cap on how much a student or organization could apply for.
“Right now, we have about 13 different student organizations that already applied for funding from the uFUND,” Hall-Jones said. “We wanted to be as open as possible.”
Student Senate President Zach George is chair of the committee, which will oversee all the student-programming requests.
“I’m excited to see what the students come up with,” he said. “I think the university is interested in new programs.”
Organizations that are interested in getting funds from the pot can pick up an application outside the dean of students office on the third floor of Baker University Center. The application is also available online. On the application, the organization must state what program the funds would be used for and how it would provide an alternative to high-risk behavior for students, Hall-Jones said.
“We review the applications every week on Wednesdays at 4 p.m. with the committee,” she said. “Students that are high-risk get priority in using the money to pay for counseling, however.”
George said the uFUND will not be available to students each year but added that it is expected to draw in about an additional $60,000 or $80,000.
Student response to the uFUND has been positive. Kyle Boers, a sophomore studying business management, said the idea of having the uFUND will help in the end.
“It sounds like an all-around good idea,” Boers said. “It rewards those who do well and gives further incentives for those who do wrong to change.”
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