ABC Allocation Release, Co-Sponsorship Form, and Important Action Items for Academic Year.
We at ABC hope everyone had a great summer and first day of class. As the academic year begins, much of Columbia’s campus is waiting for student group programming to begin. ABC has been working tirelessly through the summer and before the start of the semester to prepare for this year’s programming. As this is the first newsletter of the year, it holds a variety of IMPORTANT information and dates. Please save this email, as the following links and information is important and useful for the remainder of the academic year. Please read and review the following items:
1. ABC Student Group Allocation Packet Release
2. ABC's Co-Sponsorship Form is OPEN
3. Additional Funding Sources for Group Programming
4. Regular Calendaring is Open!
5. Activities Day is this Friday
6. Save the Date for Town Hall
7. Mandatory Club ReFuel Day Updates
8. Updating Directory and Accessing Grouper
Dear ABC Student Groups,
We at ABC hope everyone had a great summer and first day of class. As the academic year begins, much of Columbia’s campus is waiting for student group programming to begin. ABC has been working tirelessly through the summer and before the start of the semester to prepare for this year’s programming. As this is the first newsletter of the year, it holds a variety of IMPORTANT information and dates. Please save this email, as the following links and information is important and useful for the remainder of the academic year. Please read and review the following items:
1. ABC Student Group Allocation Packet Release
2. ABC's Co-Sponsorship Form is OPEN
3. Additional Funding Sources for Group Programming
4. Regular Calendaring is Open!
5. Activities Day is this Friday
6. Save the Date for Town Hall
7. Mandatory Club ReFuel Day Updates
8. Updating Directory and Accessing Grouper
1. ABC Student Group Allocation Packet Release
ABC would like to express its gratitude for every group who submitted their Allocation Packets. As of today, ABC Allocations for every group have officially been released. Please view the following link to find your group’s allocation for AY 2025-2026. The url for ABC Allocations can also be found as:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1zgsiG_cYr1tG4UnUtGK34Od2fHTJ1ruLvzAWjbkhhTg/edit?usp=sharing
Every Student Group may access their allocation and begin making purchase requests. Yearly allocations are determined by a group’s previous allocation and their approved Co-Sponsorships with ABC. ABC subtracts the remaining revenue, reported by that group, from that anticipated allocation sum to calculate this year’s allocation. ABC follows this formula to ensure that the limited allocation pool is fairly distributed to all groups, especially those with limited capacity for revenue growth and those with high expenditure costs. After review of everyone’s allocation packets and their anticipated increases in programming, ABC has distributed more funds to our Co-Sponsorship pool so that groups can request more funds and build their allocation for the subsequent years.
If you have any questions or concerns about your allocation packet, please contact [email protected]. Please keep in mind that all allocations are final and any requests for additional funds must take place through a Co-Sponsorship Request.
2. ABC's Co-Sponsorship Form is OPEN
The Activities Board at Columbia Co-Sponsorship Fund was created to fund programming that groups have either done in the past or plan on beginning this year, offering assistance to all groups looking to expand their programming. This fund is also designed to foster inclusivity within the entire Columbia undergraduate community.
ABC advises that every group save this link, as it will be used for ABC Co-Sponsorship requests for the remainder of the academic year. Here is the link for ABC Co-Sponsorships, or https://forms.gle/6oxh8R9oLR8dVzgN8.
If a group wishes to increase their allocation for the following academic year or needs additional funding for new events, ABC groups are highly encouraged to apply for an ABC Co-Sponsorship.
Please review the information and instructions within the form with much care and consideration. In order to receive an ABC Co-Sponsorship, student groups must contact their ABC Representative and include detailed financial information and planning in order to proceed in the approval process.
If you have any questions or concerns about ABC Co-Sponsorships or the approval process, please contact your ABC Representative or [email protected].
3. Additional Funding Sources
As student group programming continues to grow, many expenses may exceed what is covered by ABC Allocations or Co-Sponsorships.
In these cases, ABC strongly encourages groups to apply for additional funding opportunities, which can be found here. These sources include the Deans’ Travel Fund, the Joint Council Finance Committee, and the President & Provost’s Student Event Fund.
Starting in Fall 2025, the President & Provost (P&P) Fund application process will be amended so that student groups can request pre-approval for funding. The new P&P application will be live sooner, in conjunction with the Pre-Calendar process on March 31. Eligible events have until the third week of the fall semester to complete the P&P Fund with estimated funding needs. If pre-approved for P&P funding, groups will be notified of the allocated amount in the 4th week of the semester.
Please note that groups should first apply for an ABC Co-Sponsorship before pursuing these additional sources, ensuring that funds are distributed to events with the greatest demonstrated need.
4. Regular Calendaring is Open!
Regular calendaring for Fall 2025 is now open! All recognized student groups may submit space calendaring requests through Virtual EMS.
Please remember that your adviser and Columbia Student Events will need to approve any space requests you submit, and some space requests may require additional information or an Event Review to be approved or confirmed. If you are planning a complex event during the first few weeks of the semester, please connect with your adviser first to get a better understanding of whether an Event Review may be needed.
As always, please reach out to your adviser directly with any questions.
5. Activities Day is this Friday, September 5th!
Activities Day is this Friday, September 5th. Reminder for groups to check in with USL and ABC to receive their table location. Registered group check-in will run from 11:00AM-12:00PM. Please check-in your group's arrival to Activities Day, so that you may receive your table. Groups must check-in, or their table will be offered to other groups on ABC’s waitlist. Any group who has not checked-in by 12:15PM will have their table offered to groups on ABC’s waitlist!!!
If you were not able to reserve a table from USL, please email [email protected] to join our waitlist. If you have requested to be on ABC's watilist, please arrive at ABC's table at 12:15PM for any available tables. Only groups that are officially recognized by a governing board and an advising office are eligible for waitlist tables. Please note that groups that are up and coming, seeking recognition, or on probation are not eligible for a waitlist table. Please keep in mind that all tables are first come first serve and there is no guarantee for Student Groups on the waitlist to receive a table.
Student groups are responsible for providing their own tabling materials, including tablecloths and signs. Please be respectful of others and your tabling neighbors, with particular attention to music volume, obtrusive signage, and use of space. Other structures beyond the provided table are not permissible. Any student or group who is disruptive or violates community codes of conduct will be asked to leave.
6. Save the Date for Town Hall
ABC’s Town Hall is taking place on September 24th from 8:00PM to 10:00PM in Lerner Roone Auditorium. It is required that at least one representative from your student group attend the ABC Town Hall. This year we are requiring that every treasurer or financial board member attend ABC’s Town Hall.
ABC’s Town Hall is extremely important for clubs to attend as we will review financial training, Columbia University policies and frequently asked questions. ABC’s Town Hall is mandatory for every ABC student group. Failure to attend may lead to one’s group being placed on probation.
More information and reminders regarding ABC's Town Hall will be sent in the coming weeks!!!
7. Mandatory Club ReFuel Day Updates
We are reaching out now with more information about Club Refuel for Fall 2025.
As we announced in the spring, Club Refuel for the Fall 2025 semester will have a new format and will be taking place in-person (the first Sunday after classes start).
This will take place in a series of sessions on Sunday, September 7th from 10am-5pm, in Lerner Hall.
As in previous years, Club Refuel will have a few different parts that student leaders must complete. This year, those parts are as follows:
REQUIRED:
Attend the Enough is Enough training. This session will now be completed in person during the Club Refuel day on Sunday, September 7th. 4 e-board members from each group must complete this training.
All student leaders must pre-register for Enough is Enough here.
NEW this year: attend the Interfaith America training. This session will be completed in person during the Club Refuel day on Sunday, September 7th. 2 e-board members from each group must complete this training, regardless of which semester your group’s board transitions.
All student leaders must pre-register for Interfaith America training here.
Complete the Student Organization Knowledge Assessment (SOKA). This will be available to complete during the Club Refuel day on Sunday, September 7th, or can be completed digitally at another time. 4 e-board members from each group must complete this assessment.
Meet with your adviser. This will be completed separately from the Club Refuel day and scheduled directly with your adviser. This meeting must be completed by Friday, October 3rd. 4 e-board members from each group must meet with your adviser.
- If your group did not complete the Student Organization Survey (SOS) at the end of the spring semester, one person from your board must complete it by Friday, October 3rd.
Please note: the same 4 e-board members should be completing all required sessions. Attendance will be taken at all required sessions. All 4 e-board members must complete all required sessions in order for your student group to remain in compliance and retain good standing for the Fall 2025 semester. Failure to complete these requirements may lead to probation.
HIGHLY ENCOURAGED:
Additionally, the Club Refuel day on Sunday, September 7th will offer a variety of optional sessions. E-board members and other relevant board members are encouraged to attend these sessions. Additionally, attendance at each of these sessions will earn student leaders stamps, which can then be submitted as entry into a giveaway for some prizes!
The full Club Refuel schedule will be sent out in advance of the date! Please see below for a sample schedule:
Please visit the Club Refuel webpage for more details about the day and sessions and for all registration links.
As always, please reach out to your adviser with any questions or concerns.
8.Updating Group Directory and Accessing Student Group Emails
It has come to our attention that many groups may not be receiving emails from USL’s Listserv. This is primarily due to USL’s Listserv containing only the official Columbia email address for Student Groups, such as “[email protected].” If you are having trouble with your group’s email please visit this link, or https://www.cuit.columbia.edu/grouper.
ABC will continue to update its student groups with recent announcements on our own Listserv, but it is a top priority for us that all of our groups are receiving the appropriate communications. Please email [email protected] if you continue to face troubles in this regard.
Please do not hesitate to reach out to your ABC representatives! They are your first point of contact and advocate for ABC-related inquiries.
Have a wonderful Summer!
Best,
Armando Gimenez
ABC President
Alexander Zhao
ABC Vice President
Jade Amaya
ABC Treasurer
Madison Garrett
ABC Secretary