Students unaware of funding and the club creation requests should be aware of the Budgets and Organizations Board, the student-led organization in charge of handling these requests.
Composed of senators from the Student Government and student representatives across campus, the board works together to allocate funds and support clubs on campus. Led by Jack Mocik (‘27), CFO of Student Government, the board is committed to fostering a vibrant and diverse campus life, and offers resources to help students bring ideas to life.
The club creation process begins with a clear vision from a dedicated student or group of students passionate about bringing their ideas to life. More than 60 clubs and organizations exist on campus, but some students may believe there are some missing offerings.
“While BOB oversees funding for 60 on-campus clubs, it’s clear that the most impactful clubs are those led by members who are truly passionate and dedicated to their ideas,” said Mocik. “Whether it’s cultural or departmental clubs, it’s evident that collaboration among like-minded and driven individuals provides the foundation for student leadership and sets them up for success on campus.”
Over the years, many clubs and organizations have gone inactive on campus due to lack of interest, insufficient funding or the graduation of key members. In instances like this, BOB helps students with reviving these clubs.
Funding requests are handled through a streamlined process. Clubs can ad-hoc additional funds for specific events and initiatives on campus. This ensures they have the financial support needed to host impactful programming for students.
Other ways BOB helps with funding is the yearly budget interviews conducted during the spring semester. The board organizes these interviews for club leaders to propose their club budget requests for the following academic school year.
The board reviews factors such as the amount of programming planned, the spending done by the club during that academic year and other factors such as attendance and board members. Last year, BOB received $182,000 in funding requests for the 2024-25 academic year.
“Each club is given a 10-minute window to present its budget request, which is observed, documented and deliberated upon by the board,” said Mocik. “Allocating a budget of around $90,000 across all clubs is understandably challenging, requiring fair and representative decisions. We make the necessary, but difficult choices to ensure responsible and equitable budget distribution.”
“Any students interested in joining BOB are encouraged to reach out to me via email at jmocik@drew.edu,” said Mocik. “Being a part of the board is a highly impactful role that influences student life on campus, while also providing valuable real-world experience in teamwork, budget management and leadership.” It is a resume booster and a wonderful opportunity to get involved on campus.
For questions or concerns on creating a new club on campus or requesting additional programming funds, please email bob@drew.edu or contact Terrance Somesla-McCornell, Coordinator of Student Engagement & Club Life.
Benjamin Castro is a senior majoring in marketing & business, minoring in history.
Featured image courtesy of Pexels.com.
