Hello!

My name is Manisha Vepa, and I am running for SGA Treasurer 2015-2016. I would like to use this community discussion as a way for you to learn more about me as a candidate and ask me any questions you may have!

Why me?

To start off, I am a freshman and have only served in SGA for the past year. However, during this time, I got to see and experience the potential that SGA has to be a part of positive change and collaboration on campus. I sat in on senate meetings, observed departments, and worked as the chair of the Student Fee Advisory Board. These experiences led me to become more passionate about the type of work SGA wants to do- particularly collaborating with students to make UMBC a welcoming community.

I do have experience serving as a Treasurer in other clubs, such as Global Council of Majors, and have experience with budgeting and finance because of my major, Financial Economics. However, I believe that the passion I have cultivated over the past year is my biggest qualifier. I am excited and optimistic about the work we can do together.

What will I do?

1. Continue progress made by the previous Treasurer and Financial Support Team

• Last year, there were significant efforts taken to shift the Allocation Request Form to an online application, thus making the process easier and more efficient. If elected, I will use student input to ensure that the language and requirements are also easy to understand and follow, thus making the process even more efficient.

• I want to work more closely with Senate members to help them with financial aspects of their initiatives

2. Better relations with student organizations interested in receiving funding

• Although Finance Board works quite closely with student organizations, I believe that the Treasurer should also be an advisor throughout the allocation request process. I would set-up daily office hours during which students can come for help completing the application and preparing their presentation.

• Along with working with Finance Board, I believe that the Treasurer should work with student organizations to find financial solutions that allow them to achieve their club goals. I would use the office hours to help brainstorm ideas of alternative fundraising, provide budgeting advice and guidelines, and generally get a better understanding of their goals for the semester.

• I would work with Finance Board to try to better budget the money available for student organizations to request. During Spring semester, especially during the end, student organizations have a harder time requesting money as there is very little left. If elected, I would try to draft general guidelines as to how much money should be spent from semester to semester through analyzing past allocation data and reaching out to students organizations and learning about their anticipated events.

• I would find ways to give smaller clubs, especially clubs that represent our school outside of the UMBC community, an opportunity to receive funding from Finance Board. I would try to incorporate funding for different types of organizations into the budget so they have an equal chance to receive money.

• I would host semester meetings with club treasurers to get to know them and introduce them to the allocation process and field questions.

3. Transparency of important financial process

• Working on SFAB this past year, I would try to expand on our accomplishments and try and reach more campus members and spark more discussions about our fees.

• I would work with Finance Board to ensure that minutes were published and summary reports were sent to student organizations to keep them better informed.

Invest in Me, Invest in Your Voice