Student Programming for 2025–2026 Academic Year
Overview and Background
The University is committed to providing a robust slate of student activities this academic year with the use of student activity fees. In consultation with student leaders, the University has created a new model to provide student programming funded by student activity fees. The new model provides more university-sponsored events using the student activity fees, in place of distributing student activity fees directly to registered student organizations to put on programming.
This change is the result of a new state law and legal challenges to the law, which makes it unclear whether the existing model will remain viable throughout the semester. The University is shifting to a model that has successfully been employed at other universities and will ensure that programming can continue this academic year with predictability and without interruption. Student organizations remain free to plan their own programming using privately raised funds.
In keeping with the University’s commitment to supporting many successful events and reaching all members of the student body, under the new system, all student activity fees will still only be used to support and host programming for students. In order to consider the interests of students on campus, students are being encouraged to submit ideas for student programming, such as events, lectures, speakers, and performers.
Programming
Student Affairs, the Gertrude C. Ford Student Union, Campus Recreation, and other departments will continue to plan large-scale events that the University has historically sponsored, such as Welcome Week, RebFest, Homecoming, and more.
In addition to the student programming the University has historically sponsored, the University will expand the number and types of events. To plan a full slate of student programming that meets the interests of all students, Student Affairs is seeking suggestions from the student body through various mechanisms.
In order to consider the interests of students on campus, students may submit ideas for student programming via this link. Examples of suggestions include events, lectures, speakers, and performers. Submit ideas for the priority deadline for Fall 2025 by October 3.
Throughout the year, Student Affairs may survey the student body to see what programming is of interest.
Ideas received through the suggestion form and any student survey will be reviewed by a Student Activity Ideas Advisory Committee (“Advisory Committee”). The Advisory Committee will be chaired by the Assistant Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs/Dean of Students, and will include three staff members from Student Affairs, three students appointed by the President of the Associated Student Body, and one academic department/faculty representative.
Based on suggestions received from students, the Advisory Committee will recommend a slate of student programming that it would like to see the University sponsor with the use of the student activity fees. In reviewing suggested student programming, the Advisory Committee will attempt to develop a slate of programming that benefits the greatest number of University students while recognizing the wide range of student interests. Student activities must be open to all students.
For the fall semester, the Advisory Committee will submit its recommendation to the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs (VCSA) during the week of October 6. The VCSA will then make the final determination which student programming the University will sponsor for the semester. The slate of activities for each semester will be shared on this webpage.
The VCSA will give great consideration to the recommendation of the Advisory Committee while maintaining complete discretion to select programming that she determines is best suited for the student body and the University at large.
The University recognizes that, throughout the semester, new programming may become relevant and important to students. To address this need, even after the original slate of activities is announced, the suggestion form will remain open, and students may submit new ideas on a rolling basis. The Advisory Committee will meet to review any new ideas and, if appropriate, recommend them to the VCSA for consideration. Upon receipt of any new suggestions, the VCSA will decide whether the University will add any additional programming.
The Associated Student Body has plans to establish a foundation account to provide private funds for student programming and other needs. The amount of money available to support RSOs from the foundation account will be dependent upon donations to the account. Once the process has been solidified and funds are available, student organizations may apply to ASB to request foundation funds by utilizing The ForUM. The ASB may set limits on funding requests dependent upon the availability of funds. The ASB will provide more information about this process in the future.
In addition to Student Affairs university-sponsored student programming, the College, schools, departments, centers, and other university units may support mission-aligned extracurricular academic activities for their affiliated students. This type of programming will be paid for from school, department, program or unit funds and not from the student activity fees. Examples of academic activities include supporting academic scholastic teams (e.g., the debate team and choral groups), and sending students to academic and leadership conferences, or to present research findings.
Student programming cannot occur without the active involvement of students and student organizations. Student Affairs actively supports student involvement in the planning and execution of student activity fee-funded events, while fostering partnerships that enhance the campus experience. After the Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs announces the slate of student programming that the University will sponsor for the semester, Student Affairs will solicit students and student organizations to help plan, organize, and run the programming. In addition, students and student organizations can express their interest in helping with activities when they submit a suggestion form. The availability of students to help support a university-sponsored event may be a consideration in what activities are selected by Student Affairs.
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Suggest an Event
In order to consider the interests of students on campus, students may submit ideas for student programming at the link below. Examples of suggestions include events, lectures, speakers, and performers. Submit ideas by the priority deadline for Fall 2025 by October 3. Even after the original slate of activities is announced, the suggestion form will remain open, and students may submit new ideas on a rolling basis. The Advisory Committee will meet to review any new ideas and, if appropriate, recommend them to the VCSA for consideration.
Suggest an Event
Frequently Asked Questions
No, students cannot apply for SAF funding, however, students can submit ideas for events via the online suggestion form. For Fall 2025 events, please submit ideas by October 3. The form will remain open year-round for ongoing suggestions.
A new state law and a related legal challenge have created uncertainty about the previous model, which distributed student activity fees directly to registered student organizations. To ensure predictable and uninterrupted programming, the University is adopting a new model where the University supports student events directly.
Yes. All student activity fees will continue to be used solely to support and host programming for students.
All suggestions go to the Student Activity Ideas Advisory Committee, which includes Student Affairs staff, student representatives appointed by the Associated Student Body President, and an academic department/faculty representative. This committee reviews submissions and recommends a slate of programming to the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs (VCSA).
The Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs reviews the Advisory Committee’s recommendations and makes the final decision on which programs to fund. The approved slate of events for the semester will be posted on this webpage.
Yes. Students can continue submitting ideas through the suggestion form throughout the semester. The Advisory Committee will review new submissions, and the VCSA may approve additional programming as appropriate.
Additionally, the Associated Student Body has plans to establish a foundation account to provide private funds for student programming and other needs. The ASB will provide more information about this process in the future.
Yes. Academic schools, departments, and programs and other University units can still fund extracurricular academic activities using their own budgets. These activities are separate from student activity fees.
After the semester’s slate of events is announced, Student Affairs will invite students and student organizations to help plan and run activities. Students can also indicate their interest in volunteering when they submit the suggestion form. The availability of student support may influence which activities are selected.
All University-sponsored student activities funded by student activity fees must be open to all students.