ASUW is currently encouraging students to apply for part or all of the ASUW Special Projects Fund, which contains $95,000. Students have the opportunity to submit their ideas for projects in the form of an application to the ASUW Director of Finance Kyle Vinson.
According to the application, the funds are available to be sought after by any campus entity, so long as it benefits a large population of students and that benefit is long term. The application cannot pertain to funding research salaries, classroom projects, general operating or travel expenses.
ASUW President Ben Wetzel said that the fund provides students an opportunity to make a difference on campus.
“This fund is an incredible opportunity for an individual student to make a huge difference on campus,” Wetzel said. “When every person has the equal opportunity to change the world around them, I really believe it gives them a reason to believe in themselves and have faith that they are just as important and influential as the next person.”
The fund is derived from the investment of reserve funds and a match grant from the State of Wyoming.
“The ASUW Student Government used reserve funds (small amounts of unspent money at the end of the year, that had built up over long periods of time) and a match grant from the State of Wyoming, to start an Endowment,” Wetzel said. “This money was then sent to the UW Foundation and invested in the stock market.”
Wetzel said only profit of this investment is spent.
“The money is invested every year, and we spend nothing but what is made in profit or the Return on Investment,” Wetzel said. “The $1 million of student and state money is still used to this day at the foundation and invested to benefit all students in the future.”
ASUW Senator Metcalf said that the fund has the potential to benefit the campus.
“The $95,000 special project fund could potentially be used to create a milieu on campus that not only makes that environment a more welcoming place for potential students who are thinking about attending this institution,” Metcalf said.
Metcalf said that he recognizes the need to spend money wisely as a university, and would prefer the fund would be used to attempt to make tuition cheaper.
“If the funding is indeed used to create a better environment for college students here at this institution I do believe that it is an appropriate use of funds,” Metcalf said. “But one of the many reasons why this university is so attractive to people is the inexpensive tuition, and if those allotted funds that were obtained from this investment were channeled into making tuition cheaper, I would feel that this would be a better use of these funds.”
Wetzel said that he views the Special Projects Fund in high esteem.
“The Special Projects Fund is one of my absolute favorite ASUW Programs,” Wetzel said. “For any student to have the opportunity to take a random idea and make it real? It’s unlike anything else.”
