Every year at UW-Stout, the Stout Student Association requires organizations to submit budget requests and attend a budget hearing in order to secure funds for things like recruitment, travel, speakers, and campus events. The budget hearing consists of a presentation made by the officers of each organization, and is judged by the Stout Student Association - a board made up of students and members of the Financial Affairs Committee. Towards the end of the year, a public document is made available of the budget allocations for each organization.
We have noticed there is an alarming trend and pattern in the way the budget is allocated. Non-Academic clubs based on recreational activities and sports are far more supported than Academic clubs at UW-Stout. They are given funds to support social gatherings and travel that does not promote the educational programs at UW-Stout. One of Stout's main selling points in their marketing strategy is the large emphasis placed on job placement and internships.
The lack of funding for academic organizations affects the opportunities we have as students to attend workshops, networking events, and conferences to further our careers and education. Based on the budget allocations for 2015-2016, Non- Academic clubs requested $596,894 and received $430,872 or 72.12%. Academic clubs requested $130,262 and received just $55,521 or 42.62%. The profound lack of regard for academic clubs is directly harming the strength and success of the programs we have at UW-Stout. Please sign this petition if you agree that UW-Stout SSA should work towards supporting academic organizations as a whole and provide the funds necessary in order to ensure our success.
Updates
April 4, 2016
I have been hearing from so many stressed classmates who feel their hard work in the classroom is not being reflected in the university budget. It feels like our professional development is being pushed to the sidelines while recreational travel is prioritized. We are currently preparing to present these concerns directly to the committee members who decide where our money goes.
April 4, 2016
Seeing this much support confirms that I am not the only student frustrated by how our academic goals are undervalued. This momentum shows that our professional futures deserve more than a backseat to recreational spending.
Reached 100 supporters
April 4, 2016
16 Comments
My career in design would be fundimentally different, if it weren't for my ability to take part in the Midwest district conference and other IDSA networking events.
Support education! Industrial design is an incredibly hard major and as an ID Graduate and former IDSA student member the importance of this group is insurmountable. ID students are incredibly hard working the the major requires spending thousands of dollars. Any and all extra financial support isn't just helpful, it's absolutely necessary.
Support education! Support idsa! The students spend thousands on materials not provided by the school and on top of that join helpful educational clubs that are supposed to jumpstart their careers, not put them even more in debt.
I appreciate the importance of non-academic clubs (though perhaps not paintball and bowling), but the disparity between funding these clubs and academic organizations is shocking. Priorities?
I agree that academic organizations should have more support to strengthen students' experiences and connections through increasing the fund. It does not make sense that recreational purposed activities get more funding that had nothing to do with academics. First, academic organizations should get majority of the funday to show that Stout is putting effort in helping students' learning experiences outside classes.
To quote @cwillimyles, "This is Ridiculous!"
Both Academic and Non-Academic clubs should be supported equally, as they are equally important.
Sign Petition
We never post to your account. Social sign-in is used only to verify your signature.
Add a comment?
Your signature will be added via . Tell others why you're signing — it's optional.
By signing, you accept iPetitions Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
Share Petition
Don't stop at signing, share the petition link with friends to multiply our impact
Copy link or share directly
Every year at UW-Stout, the Stout Student Association requires organizations to submit budget requests and attend a budget hearing in order to secure funds for things like recruitment, travel, speakers, and campus events. The budget hearing consists of a presentation made by the officers of each organization, and is judged by the Stout Student Association - a board made up of students and members of the Financial Affairs Committee. Towards the end of the year, a public document is made available of the budget allocations for each organization.
We have noticed there is an alarming trend and pattern in the way the budget is allocated. Non-Academic clubs based on recreational activities and sports are far more supported than Academic clubs at UW-Stout. They are given funds to support social gatherings and travel that does not promote the educational programs at UW-Stout. One of Stout's main selling points in their marketing strategy is the large emphasis placed on job placement and internships.
The lack of funding for academic organizations affects the opportunities we have as students to attend workshops, networking events, and conferences to further our careers and education. Based on the budget allocations for 2015-2016, Non- Academic clubs requested $596,894 and received $430,872 or 72.12%. Academic clubs requested $130,262 and received just $55,521 or 42.62%. The profound lack of regard for academic clubs is directly harming the strength and success of the programs we have at UW-Stout. Please sign this petition if you agree that UW-Stout SSA should work towards supporting academic organizations as a whole and provide the funds necessary in order to ensure our success.
Updates
April 4, 2016
I have been hearing from so many stressed classmates who feel their hard work in the classroom is not being reflected in the university budget. It feels like our professional development is being pushed to the sidelines while recreational travel is prioritized. We are currently preparing to present these concerns directly to the committee members who decide where our money goes.
April 4, 2016
Seeing this much support confirms that I am not the only student frustrated by how our academic goals are undervalued. This momentum shows that our professional futures deserve more than a backseat to recreational spending.
Reached 100 supporters
April 4, 2016
16 Comments
Academics should come before Non-Academic clubs, definitely. It is proven that students that participate in academic extracurriculars perform better than students that don't. By not funding the academic clubs 100% the school is showing their students who is worth their funding...and that is unacceptable.
My career in design would be fundimentally different, if it weren't for my ability to take part in the Midwest district conference and other IDSA networking events.
Support education! Industrial design is an incredibly hard major and as an ID Graduate and former IDSA student member the importance of this group is insurmountable. ID students are incredibly hard working the the major requires spending thousands of dollars. Any and all extra financial support isn't just helpful, it's absolutely necessary.
Support education! Support idsa! The students spend thousands on materials not provided by the school and on top of that join helpful educational clubs that are supposed to jumpstart their careers, not put them even more in debt.
I appreciate the importance of non-academic clubs (though perhaps not paintball and bowling), but the disparity between funding these clubs and academic organizations is shocking. Priorities?
I agree that academic organizations should have more support to strengthen students' experiences and connections through increasing the fund. It does not make sense that recreational purposed activities get more funding that had nothing to do with academics. First, academic organizations should get majority of the funday to show that Stout is putting effort in helping students' learning experiences outside classes.
To quote @cwillimyles, "This is Ridiculous!"
Both Academic and Non-Academic clubs should be supported equally, as they are equally important.
Help this petition grow
Share it with friends to help reach 250 signatures.
Sign Petition
We never post to your account. Social sign-in is used only to verify your signature.
Add a comment?
Your signature will be added via .
Tell others why you're signing — it's optional.
Signing with Google or Facebook verifies your signature instantly — no email needed.
By signing, you accept iPetitions Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
Share Petition
Don't stop at signing, share the petition link with friends to multiply our impact
Petitions like this
Other petitions you might want to support
Scan to share
Anyone who scans this can sign the petition.
Academics should come before Non-Academic clubs, definitely. It is proven that students that participate in academic extracurriculars perform better than students that don't. By not funding the academic clubs 100% the school is showing their students who is worth their funding...and that is unacceptable.