Multicultural Education Fund

From KUpedia

The Multicultural Education Fund ("MEF"), sometimes called the Multicultural Educational Oppurtunity Fund ("MEOF"), was passed by student referendum in the Spring of 2006 and implemented in the Fall of 2006. It seeks to help fund multicultural events, groups and travel in addition to what the Student Senate Activity Fee and Finance Committee fund. This fee is set at $1.50 per semester and is currently overseen by the Multicultural Education Fund Board. This fee generates about $75,000 per year and is allocated to many different groups and events.

[edit] Funding Guidelines

The funding guidelines for the MEF have some differences from Appendix I of Student Senate Rules & Regulations. The MEF allows for a higher percentage of money overall to be given to student groups of their beginning balance. In Student Senate's Rules & Regulations (Appendix I), funding is only allowed up to 50% over $1,000 for "special events" (campus events, cultural events, etc). In MEF Funding Guidelines, "No group, corporation, or organization shall recieve more than seventy-five percent (75%) over one thousand dollars ($1,000.00)" This expands the amount of money groups are eligible to recieve, as well as for what purposes they may use that funding for.

[edit] History

In the spring of 2006, the student body voted to approve a $1.50 increase in student fees to go towards a new fund specifically for certain events related to multicultural education which could not otherwise be funded through Student Senate. The referendum voted on was generated by the Multicultural Affairs Committee after being developed by Stephanie Craig, the chair of the committee at the time.

During the first year of the fund's existence, it was managed primarily by the Multicultural Affairs Committee. After concerns over the degree of oversight Student Senate held over the fund, a special subcommittee was set up. This consisted of four students who are involved with the Office of Multicultural Affairs, as well as four representatives of Student Senate, selected by four of the five standing committees (MA, UA, Rights, and Finance). The committee is chaired by the vice-chair the Multicultural Affairs Committee. Santos Nunez, an OMA faculty member, serves as an adviser to the committee. Non-official members are allowed to sit in on meetings, and are granted speaking and questioning rights, however they do not vote.

[edit] Structure

The Multicultural Education Fund Board (MEF) is chaired by the Vice-Chair of the Multicultural Affairs Committee. The MEF Board is vice-chaired by any appointed or elected member of the board, as determined by popular vote within the board.

The Board is comprised of 8 members:

• 4 members appointed by the Director of the Office of Multicultural Affairs.
• 1 member appointed by the Finance Committee: Brian Hardouin
• 1 member appointed by the University Affairs Committee: Christie M. Jones
• 1 member appointed by the Student Rights Committee: Katy Clagett
• 1 member appointed by the Multicultural Affairs Committee: Devon Cantwell

The current Chair is: Michael Wade Smith.

Four student representatives of the Office of Multicultural Affairs are also voting members of the committee. Faculty member Santos Nunez serves as an adviser.