Over the past decade, Muhlenberg has seen a continuous decrease in student population: in 2019, the College welcomed 538 first years and this year saw just 415 new Mules.
With the steady decline of Muhlenberg’s population, there are inherently fewer students involved in activities. Student Government Association (SGA) is given a yearly budget that is drawn directly from the Student Activity Fees, a budget which is dependent on the amount of students that attend the college.
Bayani Medina ‘29, the treasurer of SGA, spoke about the distribution of the student activity fees. “This semester, every full-time Muhlenberg student spent $162 on the Student Activity Fee. $50 is allocated to the Dean of Students Office, and the rest is distributed by SGA. This money is then allocated to our Allocated Budget Organizations and the General Fund.“
Student Body President Josephine Glass ‘27 detailed, “While Muhlenberg’s enrollment has decreased, students continue to be very engaged and involved in student activities. There are fewer students contributing to the student activity fee, so there is naturally less money available overall. However, the Student Activity Fee and the funding available to SGA are proportional to the size of the student body. Because of that, student organizations should not see a significant difference in their funding simply because enrollment has decreased.”
Medina also emphasized SGA’s pursuit of equitably distributing funds. “I evaluate requests based on their service to the entire student body. The SGA Finance Committee and I are dedicated to distributing funds equitably and thoughtfully as responsible stewards of the Student Activity Fee.”
Glass highlights the organization’s commitment to collaboration. “We work closely with student organizations to understand what they are trying to accomplish and identify the best ways to support their programming while also making responsible use of student funds.”
Requests will continue to be reviewed with intention as fair allocation remains the focus of SGA’s plans this year. Glass stated that “There is less money available overall because there are fewer students, but that does not mean that organizations are simply receiving less money across the board. Each request is considered individually, and SGA works to allocate funding equitably based on the needs and impact of each request.”
Medina explains the decision-making process further. “General Fund Requests are evaluated based on whether they create a meaningful impact on students, align with the College’s DEIB statement, demonstrate sound planning and fiscal responsibility and recognize the value of the Student Activity Fee and its equal benefit to all students.”
SGA is emphasizing the use of the updated SCORE form for more intentional and cost-effective purchases. The SGA Finance Committee meets every Tuesday to vote on any requests that are submitted through the SCORE form. If a request exceeds $1,000, the vote must be conducted by SGA as a whole during general assemblies on Wednesdays.
Medina spoke on the larger requests that have been approved this semester. “All of our $1000+ requests that our committee has approved out of the General Fund were for funding the first-year arcade, ‘Tragical History of Doctor Faustus,’ Muhlapalooza and passes for the Rock Climbing Club.“
Because of the constraints that a smaller budget presents to SGA’s flexibility, clubs are encouraged to be mindful with requests submitted. Glass continued: “Looking toward the future, I think the decrease in enrollment means that SGA will have to remain particularly intentional about how we allocate funding. However, I do not think it changes the importance of student organizations or the value they bring to the Muhlenberg community. If anything, it reinforces the importance of making sure student activity funds are being used responsibly and in ways that have a meaningful impact on students.”
