Associated Students, Inc. (ASI) Student Government is now accepting applications for ASI Social Justice Program Funding, designed to give eligible groups additional funding to support education programs promoting acceptance, inclusion and respect.
Those eligible for the funding include currently chartered and Cal Poly recognized student organizations and departments.
The budget will be divided amongst organizations “to help support events and programs that are intended to educate students on issues facing underrepresented minority students,” according to ASI’s press release.
In May 2018, the ASI Board of Directors approved an allocation of $15,000 from the ASI budget for this program. Organizations may be awarded as much as $2,500 to be used towards a maximum of three events per year.
“I think that the Social Justice Funding is a great opportunity to provide resources for underrepresented minority groups on campus, to really educate the student body on what it means to be an inclusive campus,” ASI Board of Directors Chair Mark Borges said.
The funds were redistributed from funds previously allocated to club sports: $5,000 from Club Special Insurance and $10,000 from Club Co-Sponsorship.
The funds will be granted by a committee that includes three representatives of the MultiCultural Centers, one ASI Student Government representative and the student intern of the Office of University Diversity and Inclusion (OUDI).
The collaboration between ASI and OUDI aims to “foster a connection … specific to this funding,” University Spokesperson Matt Lazier said.
The committee has been tasked with reviewing applications and making recommendations, but final review and approval will be made by members of ASI Student Government.
Any organizations or departments seeking ASI co-sponsorship through the Social Justice Fund should aim to host events or programs that advance the university’s efforts to bolster social justice, diversity and inclusion.
The application can be found on the ASI Student Government website.