Are there prerequisites for starting a new student-run
group at the GSD?
How do I start a new Student Group?
Where is the Registration Form found?
How does our group receive a budget/funding?
Where is the Funding Request Form found?
Are budgets annual or per semester?
How does Student Forum determine what costs it will fund?
Is Student Forum's budget made public?
Do we receive our budgeted money immediately?
How is money disbursed?
Where is the reimbursement form found?
Why not just give us the money in a lump-sum up front?
What information is useful when our group submits its
funding request?
When are final reimbursements due for a semester?
Should our group have a bank account?
How can our group reserve a space in Gund Hall for an
event/meeting/etc.?
How can we let the student body know about our activities?
How can our group submit an event for the GSD Online Calendar?
Can our group get an email address?
Can our group get a website?
Who should we address additional questions to?
- Are there prerequisites for starting a new student-run group at the GSD?
- No, there are no specific requirements to meet before starting a student organization. The groups are entirely independent of the administration and free to operate as they wish, within the bounds of any overarching GSD regulation and the guidelines for GSD student organizations. The only involvement you might find helpful is that of Student Forum, when it comes to funding. In that case, we only asks that a group acknowledge the Forum's support on any posters/publications/etc.
- How do I start a new Student Group?
- The Student Forum asks that each new group submit a Registration Form. This allows us to know contact names, to stay in touch with your group and to help coordinate efforts between groups. In addition, any returning group is asked to resubmit this form at the start of each year. No budget (see below) will be considered if the Forum has not received a Registration Form acknowledging the group's existence.
- Where is the Registration Form found?
- The group registration form can be downloaded in either PDF or Word format. Please fill in the blanks on the computer and then submit a hard (paper) copy to the Forum mailbox located in Student Services, Room 422.
- How does our group receive a budget/funding?
- Student groups can receive partial funding for their events from
the Student Forum. A group must submit a Budget Form to the Forum
prior to the budget review session in Fall semester. Exact dates can
be obtained by contacting the Forum treasurer.
Groups with large financial needs are also encouraged to seek funding from outside sources, such as alumni and institutional sponsors.
- Where is the Funding Request Form found?
- The group funding request form can be found at http://www.gsd.harvard.edu/sforum/groups.html, or downloaded in a word format by clicking here. Please fill in the blanks on the computer and then submit a hard (paper) copy to the Forum mailbox located in Student Services, Room 422.
- Are budgets annual or per semester?
- Budgets are annual. No money may be passed from one academic year to the next.
- How does Student Forum determine what costs it will fund?
- The officers of Student Forum have a lengthy budget review session where their funds are allotted, not only for student organizations but for events such as Carnivale and the Teaching Award. Funds are allotted after an examination of a series of issues such as the perceived overall contribution of the fund usage to the student body, the validity of the group's use of the requested funds, a group's past history and track record, supplemental information provided with the Budget Form, etc.
- Is Student Forum's budget made public?
- Yes. While we do not currently print or post our budget publicly, the information is available to a student or organization. Please contact the Student Forum treasurer.
- Do we receive our budgeted money immediately?
- No.
- How is money disbursed?
- The Forum utilizes a reimbursement system to distribute funds to groups. An individual must temporarily endure the expense, and then submit a Reimbursement Form to Student Forum with the appropriate invoice/receipt/etc. (Rare exceptions can be made on a case-by-case basis. Please speak with the Student Forum secretary and treasurer.)
- Where is the Reimbursement Form found?
- The group reimbursement form can be found at http://www.gsd.harvard.edu/sforum/groups.html, or downloaded in a word format by clicking here. Please fill in the blanks on the computer and then submit a paper copy to the Forum mailbox located in Student Services, Room 422.
- Why not just give us the money in a lump-sum up front?
- The money Student Forum distributes to student groups comes directly from the Student Activity Fee, and thus is the money of the student body. The reimbursement system allows us to make sure your money is not being spent irresponsibly. Also, most groups do not use their full allotment of funds, and thus the surplus can fall back into Student Forum's general budget and benefit the whole student body.
- What information is useful when our group submits its funding request?
- Any supplemental information (specifically for larger events) makes it easier for the funding request review committee to allot the appropriate amount of funds. Example: while a request for $50 with the simple statement "poster printing" provides adequate information, it is harder to consider a request for $400 when the line item simply says "invited speaker." There is no indication that a particular person is in mind or has even agreed to appear. Always provide the most information you can to indicate the work already put into planning an event/use of funds. Joint ventures between students groups are also encouraging to the Forum. While we'd like to give every organization the maximum amount of money, the GSD has so many valuable student groups that decisions have to be made. When an event is co-sponsored by two or more groups, it not only allows your programs to coincide, it allows the groups to share costs and make an event much more viable.
- When are final reimbursements due for a semester?
- This date is usually around exam week. Please inquire with the Student Forum reasurer. After this date, no further reimbursements will be considered.
- Should our group have a bank account?
- All signs point to no. While a couple groups have in the past, these were organizations which maintained very large budgets funded largely outside the GSD. If you feel the need to establish a bank account, this is done outside of the GSD or Student Forum's involvement.
- How can our group reserve a space in Gund Hall for an event/meeting/etc.?
- Either contact Trevor O'Brien in Building Services or visit them in person in the basement of Gund Hall to reserve a room.
- Can our group get an email address?
- Yes. Contact Computer Resources about establishing a group email address. (You will actually be getting an alias which points to a series of email addresses. Example: The GSD Widget Club gets widget@gsd.harvard.edu, which actually redirects messages to Widget Club members jdoe@gsd and jpants@gsd.)
- Can our group get a website?
- Yes. Click here to submit a request to Computer Resources for a webiste for your student group. Contact Computer Resources with any specific questions.
- Who should we address additional questions to?
- Most student organization issues are handled by the Student Forum secretary, although financial/budget issues are better addressed to the Student Forum treasurer Laura Snowdon in Student Services is also very knowledgeable and involved with student groups.