Student Levies

Student Levies

Levy Funding is meant to support highly involved clubs with a source of funding beyond that which any other funding avenue may provide.

Consult the Finance Policy §15 for full details. If there is a discrepancy between the contents of this website and the Finance Policy, the Finance Policy prevails.

Here are the existing levies:

This website is split into two halves. If you represent a club seeking a new levy, read the first half, from this header text to the next similarly styled header text. If you represent an existing levy group seeking to maintain a levy, read the second half after the next header text.

Is this funding avenue appropriate for me?

Levy Funding is intended for established organizations seeking long-term student fee support at scale. As passing a levy requires a referendum, the organization must have substantial support amongst the engineering student community.

Eligible applicants must be:

• Full-status clubs affiliated with the Engineering Society; or
• Affiliated Entities.

Levy funds are generally only used for operating expenses. Operating capital may be approved by the Finance Committee on a case-by-case basis. Large capital purchases should be made through SEF or the club’s other funds.

Engineering Society levies have a maximum duration of two years, after which they must be renewed.

If you do not currently possess a levy, the Board of Directors may refuse to hold a referendum unless you already receive more than $1,000 in affiliated club funding.

How should I apply?

Applications for Levy Funding are open in early February only.

Eligible groups will receive an email containing an application template, the application form, and the application deadline. The deadline as stated in the email is authoritative.

Your application must include:

• A letter addressed to the engineering student body explaining your activities, accomplishments, and needs;
• The levy amount requested from students;
• A budget for the current year;
• A constitution or governing document outlining governance, accountability, and transition procedures.

How are applications reviewed?

A 3-step process is followed after you send your levy application:

1. Review by the Finance Committee.

The Finance Committee reviews levy applications based on the following:

• Technical and/or professional value to the community;
• Community-building value;
• Inclusivity of events;
• Appropriateness of the requested levy amount;
• Ability to carry out the proposed activities;
• Good budgeting practices, including a contingency;
• Demonstrated value-seeking among alternatives;
• Accountability to levy-paying students and likelihood of referendum success. Other criteria may be considered at the Finance Committee’s discretion.

The Finance Committee review is a technical and budgetary review. The Committee may either recommend that an application’s levy amount be amended, the application progress as is, or the application be rejected entirely.

1. Review by the Engineering Society Board of Directors.

The EngSoc Board of Directors reviews levies on behalf of their constituents; as such, they may vote for or against applications based on what they believe their constituents may benefit from best. This review occurs during the February Board of Directors meeting. A simple majority of the Board is required for a levy application to progress to the subsequent stage (referendum). A levy application that fails the Board vote is unsalvageable; it cannot be moved to referendum in the same year.

1. Referendum within the engineering student community.

The referendum occurs in March. A simple majority of engineering students who voted must vote for the levy to pass. A campaigning period will be provided under the campaigning rules in Bylaw 3. If the referendum is passed, the levy will come into effect next academic year.

This half of this web page contains information on maintaining levies.

What happens after my funding is approved?

Levy funds are distributed in three installments:

• 60% in the Fall round;
• 25% in the Winter round;
• 15% in the Spring round.

To receive the first installment, levy groups must submit by August 31:

• A list of authorized members and their contact information;
• Proof of a bank account with appropriate signing officers;
• A preliminary or forecast budget.

Audits

Levy groups must comply with all audit requirements here. Funding will be withheld if audit requirements are not met. In particular, all levy groups:

• Must submit a profit and loss statement to the Business Manager every May. The Business Manager (Rhonda) will send an email to levy groups requesting these statements;
• Must submit the audit template, bank statements, and receipts to the Audit Committee by June 30 annually.

Renewing a levy

Levies must be renewed every two years. Information pertinent to renewing a levy is located in the first half of this page.

Contact

If you have any questions about Levies, please contact the VP Finance at vpfinance@skule.ca.