What is the SFC?
The SFC stands for the Student Finance Committee.  It is an umbrella term for two distinct bodies: the SFC itself, and the Office of the Student Treasurer (the OST, or simply "the office").  Together, these groups allocate, organize, and are responsible for financial transactions among student groups.

What is the difference between the Committee and the Office?
The Student Finance Committee handles allocations and determines exactly how much money is distributed to each group.  You can reach the SFC at sfc@oberlin.edu. 
The Office of the Student Treasurer processes forms and makes sure groups are reimbursed, speakers are paid, etc.  You can reach the OST at ost@oberlin.edu.  

I'm a new treasurer. What do I do? 
If it is the beginning of the semester, you must attend Treasurer Training.  If this has already occurred, email the office to arrange a training session.  If you are seeking funding for your organization, explore the "Getting Funding" section of the sidebar.  If your organization already has an allocation, and now needs to spend those funds on planned events, take a look at the "Spending Funds" section.  If you have further questions, you can always email sfc@oberlin.edu, or else come in to office hours.

A group of students and I came up with an idea for an event/program/project.  Would we be eligible for SFC funding?
Generally, yes.  Anyone may submit a request for Ad Hoc funding.  If you visit SFC office hours, a Committee member can help you craft your budget request, and can give you a better sense of the criteria that the SFC uses in making allocations.

How does the SFC make its funding decisions?
The SFC follows a relatively simple and uniform process when evaluating each funding request.  The Committee will review the description of the organization that submitted the budget, then the budget itself.  Discussion generally focuses on several key issues:

• does the event/program/project fall under the purview of the organization in question?
• in what ways will the requested item or event benefit the Oberlin campus and community?
• do the costs seem reasonable for the item or event in question?
• what allocation policies are applicable?

Committee members will advance various proposals for different levels of funding that they feel are appropriate.  Then, the Committee will vote on each item, until a final allocation for the budget request is reached.

Why wasn't my group given the funds that we requested?
The SFC only has limited resources with which to fund all of the student groups on campus. Thus, the SFC often must make difficult decisions, and must cut items from nearly all budgets.  If you would like to know more about why you weren't given money for a certain item on your budget, consult the minutes for the Ad Hoc session you attended, or else from the spring budgeting process, or contact the SFC at sfc@oberlin.edu.  We would be happy to meet with you both to provide more information regarding allocations, and to help you craft your budget proposals.

Does the SFC fund Winter Term projects?
The SFC does not fund Winter Term projects, as of October 2010.  However, we do provide funding to the Winter Term Committee, which gives grants for both individual and group projects.  Please apply to the Winter Term Committee.

How much money is left in our account?
Send a quick email to ost@oberlin.edu, including your organization's name and account code, or else stop in office hours to ask.

I submitted a Request for Payment form in order to get reimbursed for items that I purchased for my organization.  When will I receive my check?
Whenever you submit a form, both the OST and the College Controller's Office follow a very specific set of procedures in order to process it.  First, a Controller in the OST will check the form to ensure that it has all required signatures and attached receipts.  Then, they will check your account in the Banner system to ensure that your organization has sufficient funds to make the payment.  Finally, they will enter the transaction into the OST database, and turn the form over to the Student Treasurer.  The Student Treasurer checks over the form again and signs it, thus authorizing the transactions.  The Student Treasurer regularly brings approved forms to the College Controller's Office in the Service Building, where the forms and receipts are checked again, with the expenditure entered into the Banner system, and a check requested.  Checks are cut each Monday and Wednesday? and will be either held at the Controller's Office or sent to your OCMR, as indicated on the form.  This process takes varying amounts of time, depending on the time of year and how busy the Controller's Office is.  However, you can facilitate the speed of processing by ensuring that your form has all required signatures, is properly filled out, and has appropriate receipts before turning it in to the OST.