Spring 2024 USS Funding Oppurtunities

02/02/2024

Dear Students, 


We want to welcome you wholeheartedly to the start of the Spring semester! As you have gotten a chance to settle in, we would like to share with you the full roster of funding opportunities that you can apply to at the University Student Senate this year. We are excited to report that thanks to our Senators' diligent efforts, we have expanded our offerings to the community as we have never before. Here they are as follows, and please be sure to understand the policies and requirements at the end of this message:


MATERIAL FUND

The USS Material Fund supports students engaging in creative endeavors that just need that extra bit of support to make their projects happen. Need a fabric to experiment with that is out of your budget? A few canvases short to make your installation happen? Missing some books that would be helpful for an essay? The Material Fund is here for you. Students can apply for up to 300-500$ of funding regardless of program or school. To apply, follow the requirements listed below and be prepared to answer the following questions at your funding meeting: What is the concept behind your project? How would the USS Material Fund be able to make your project flourish? What are your current funding resources and their limitations? What are the goals of your project? 

ACADEMIC FUND

The USS Academic Fund is dedicated to supporting the long-term academic and career development of New Schoolers. Growth takes time, and the Academic Fund is here to aid you in ensuring that you can meet your goals at each stage, whether it is a thesis, conference, or portfolio. Students can apply for up to 500-1000$ of funding, and it does not have to be connected to a class you are taking. To apply, follow the requirements listed below and be prepared to answer the following questions at your funding meeting: What are your long-term goals for this year, and how do they relate to your academic/career plans? Do you have a timeline for these goals? How will the USS Academic Fund be able to support you in meeting these goals at these stages? Have you requested funding from your school or department for these plans, and what was the response? 

COMMUNITY FUND

The USS Community Fund is our hallmark longstanding funding source for Independent Student Groups, Registered Student Organizations (RSOs), and Individual Student Initiatives. As long as your proposal is accessible to all New School students and focused on community-building, anything is possible, whether it is a concert, panel, or simply food for weekly club meetings. RSOs are eligible for up to 5000$ per academic year, Independent Student Groups are eligible for up to 3000$, and Individual Student Initiatives are eligible for up to 1000$. To apply, follow the requirements listed below and be prepared to answer the following questions at your funding meeting: What are your other sources of funding, and how will they be allocated? What are your plans for the funds you are currently requesting? How will your proposal benefit the entire New School community? How will you ensure that your proposal builds community for the long term? 

Documents and Other Requirements (MUST READ BEFORE APPLYING):

  • ALL APPLICANTS must provide a presentation document and budget sheet in a Google folder created at the designated location in the USS Finance Google Drive. All required documents MUST be submitted 24 hours before your scheduled funding meeting. NO MODIFICATIONS shall be allowed after a funding decision has been made. 

  • RETURNING APPLICANTS MUST submit an Executive Summary containing ALL REQUIRED SECTIONS in this example document to the original folder in order to be eligible for additional funding. Please note that you will not be eligible for Spring semester funding if you have already been approved for the full amount in the fall. 

  • MATERIAL FUND APPLICANTS must identify a class your proposal is associated with in your presentation document. The instructor’s signature is not required. However, suppose publication and/or exhibition is one of the end goals of your proposal - in that case, you must identify the USS as one of your funding sources in its description/acknowledgments section. 

  • ACADEMIC FUND APPLICANTS must identify an area of study or University Department your proposal is associated with in your presentation document. If you are requesting CONFERENCE ATTENDANCE FUNDING for more than two students, you MUST apply through the Community Fund. 

  • ALL RECEIPTS for purchases must be uploaded to your proposal folder. You must also indicate the amount spent in your budget's relevant sections. WE RESERVE THE RIGHT to audit your expenditure and modify your remaining funds.

  • PLEASE BE AWARE that USS funding is meant to be SUPPLEMENTAL, and funding allocations are subject to a two-week turnaround time. As such, we are unable to accept emergency applications.

  • PROMOTIONAL MATERIALS for your proposal MUST include the USS Logo once funding is approved. 

  • You do not have to meet the upper limit for funding proposals in order to apply. 

  • ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS FOR RSOs can be found here. 

To schedule a funding meeting, go to this link here. If you have any questions, please email ussfinance@newschool.edu. Thank you for your interest, and we look forward to hearing from you!

Sincerely, 

Michael Kpade, Director of Finance, Senator for Lang

Linfei Yang, Director of Operations, Senator for NSSR


Message to the CommunityUniversity Student Senate