Fall 2026

At a glance

Budget
$20,000
Allocated
$19,460
Total requested
$72,067
HSOs that applied
24
Events reviewed
97

The Finance Committee of Harris Student Government (HSG) allocates funding to Harris Student Organizations (HSOs) each quarter. This report shows what every HSO asked for, what it received, and why, so any student can check the decisions. Requests this quarter totaled $72,067 against a $20,000 budget, so the committee could fund about 27% of what was asked.

Our approach

The HSG Finance Committee exists to help HSOs turn the diversity, curiosity, and creativity of the Keller Center into real impact. That includes culture, art, and civic engagement. Policy doesn’t happen in a vacuum. It grows out of how we work, study, and celebrate together.

Each committee member reviews roughly 120 events per quarter, and we evaluate every one on its merits. Some judgment is unavoidable, so we want to be clear about what we weigh:

  • Who it serves: the specific community the event is designed for
  • What it aims to achieve: its intended outcomes for that community
  • Why it matters: how meaningfully it serves the people it’s built for

We score impact holistically, not by size alone. Events designed for smaller communities are valued just as much as large ones when they serve their audience well.

Our goal is to channel that creativity into tangible benefits for Harris students today and to build an open, curious, evidence-driven culture that carries forward to future cohorts.

How funding works

Every allocation has two parts:

  • Flat share: 25% of the budget is split equally among every HSO that applied on time, $208 each this quarter.
  • Flexible share: the remaining $15,000 is split in proportion to each HSO’s committee score × eligible request.

Eligible request is what an HSO asked for, minus food spending above these limits:

Event type What it means What HSG covers
Cultural The food or cultural practice is the event All food
Programmatic A speaker, panel, training or service event that would happen without food Food up to 60% of the event budget
Social The gathering itself is the point (mixers, pub nights, outings) Up to $400 per event, times the number of confirmed co-hosting HSOs

Committee score is the average of each reviewer’s score plus one automatic score computed from the application. Every reviewer scores three areas from 1 to 5, weighted 30% Financial Stewardship, 25% Collaboration & Inclusion and 45% Impact. Reviewers recuse themselves from HSOs they belong to.

Rollover is each HSO’s HarrisHub “Available” balance, and it counts toward the HSO’s events. An HSO can set part of it aside as an earmark when the money is restricted by a sponsor, donor or grant, committed under a signed contract, or saved for a specific event later in the academic year that the HSO itemizes with its cost. General savings don’t count.

See METHODOLOGY.md for a summary of the rules and formulas, and the policy documents for the full Fall 2026 policy.

No HSO can receive more than its flat share plus its eligible request, and allocations are rounded to the nearest $10. Any change the committee makes by hand is marked with a short note in the table at the end.

Allocations

What drove the allocations

Higher-scoring applications tended to receive a larger share of their eligible request. Smaller requests also score higher on this measure, because the equal flat share is a bigger part of them.

Rollover and outside funds lower an HSO’s automatic Financial Stewardship score. The chart shows each HSO’s balance relative to its request against the share it received.

Food and event rules

Of $53,673 in food requested across 97 events, $18,445 fell outside the limits above and was left out of eligible requests. HSOs can still spend on it, using rollover, RSO funds or sponsors.

Compared with past quarters

What changed this quarter

Fall 2026 is the first quarter under a new, rules-based framework:

  • One published formula sets every allocation. A flat share plus a flexible share based on score and eligible request. Any committee adjustment needs a written justification and is marked in the report.
  • Food limits are applied event by event, with a written explanation for every exclusion.
  • There is no per-club cap. The old $1,800 limit is gone; large allocations are flagged for committee review instead.
  • Every on-time applicant is scored on the same rubric, including applications that were initially missed.
  • Earmarked funds are set aside. Money restricted by a sponsor, donor or grant, committed under a signed contract, or saved for a specific, itemized event later in the academic year doesn’t count as rollover.
  • HSOs can respond. They have 72 hours after receiving their event classifications to contest a classification, correct attendance, confirm co-hosts, update rollover or claim earmarked funds.

Next steps

  • Publish the food and event rules before applications open, so HSOs can budget around them.
  • Collect actual attendance and spending after each quarter, so future reports compare plans to outcomes.

Sincerely,

Ayan Sarkar
HSG Finance Committee Chair, 2026–27

FAQs

Who reviews my HSO’s allocation application?

  • The HSG Finance Committee. Five committee members each read every application and score the HSO from 1 to 5 in three areas: Financial Stewardship (30%), Collaboration & Inclusion (25%) and Impact (45%).
  • An automatic score calculated from the application data (rollover, collaborations, expected attendance) counts as one more reviewer.
  • Reviewers recuse themselves from HSOs they belong to.
  • Scoring is by HSO, not by event. Every event is still read and classified so the food rules can be applied.
  • The HSG Executive Board then reviews and votes to approve each HSO’s amount.
  • Full scoring criteria: see the policy documents.

How is my allocation calculated?

  • Equal base share: 25% of the budget is split equally among every HSO that applied on time ($208 each this quarter).
  • Shared pool: the other 75% is split in proportion to committee score × eligible request.
  • Eligible request is what the HSO asked for, minus food spending above the limits described in How funding works.
  • Upper limit and rounding: no HSO gets more than its base share plus its eligible request, and amounts are rounded to the nearest $10.

Why did my HSO get less than it asked for?

  • Requests are bigger than the budget. This quarter they totaled about 3.6 times the budget, so every HSO received part of its request.
  • The biggest factors are food spending above the limits, a large rollover balance compared with the request, and few co-hosted events.
  • The committee score sets each HSO’s share of the pool.

Will events for smaller communities, or events without co-hosts, score lower?

No. The automatic score is only one of six voices, and it can’t see everything. It counts attendance and co-hosts, but it can’t tell how much an event matters to the people it serves.

That’s what the five human reviewers are for. They score Impact by who an event serves and how well it serves them, not by size alone. Events for historically underrepresented communities, and policy topics that matter deeply to a smaller group, are valued as much as large events. Not every good event needs a co-host, and reviewers take that into account too.

Does my rollover count against me?

  • Yes, by default. We use each HSO’s HarrisHub “Available” balance as rollover, and a large balance compared with the request lowers the Stewardship score.
  • Earmarked money is set aside when the HSO documents it in its application: money restricted by a sponsor, donor or grant; money committed under a signed contract; or money saved for a specific, itemized event later in the same academic year, with its estimated cost and planned quarter.
  • General savings don’t count, including money saved for unspecified “future events” or for after the academic year ends.

Who decides when my HSO gets its allocation?

The process involves HSO leaders, HSG and SEB (Student Engagement and Belonging):

  1. HSG emails HSO leaders when applications open.
  2. HSO leaders submit the application on HarrisHub by the deadline.
  3. The Finance Committee classifies every event and sends each HSO its event classifications.
  4. HSOs have 72 hours to contest a classification, correct attendance, confirm co-hosts, update rollover or claim earmarked funds. This is the only chance to appeal.
  5. The Finance Committee scores applications and sets allocation amounts.
  6. The HSG Executive Board reviews and votes to approve each amount.
  7. HSOs are emailed their final allocation amount. Amounts can’t be changed after this point.
  8. HSG sends SEB the approved amounts.
  9. SEB adds the funds to each HSO’s HarrisHub account.

When does each quarter’s funding arrive?

Quarter funded Apply Funds arrive
Fall By June of the previous academic year By week 2 of Fall
Winter About week 7 of Fall Week 1 of Winter
Spring About week 7 of Winter Week 1 of Spring

HSOs always apply the quarter before. For Fall, that means applying before summer break so funds are ready when the year starts. HSG emails exact dates each quarter.

What if we miss the deadline?

Late applications aren’t guaranteed a review. Any the committee accepts receive the equal base share only.

Is there a way to get my allocation sooner?

Not really. What helps is replying quickly to the Finance Committee’s email confirming your amount: the sooner HSOs respond, the sooner HSG can send the amounts to SEB.

Where can I see every HSO’s allocation?

Right here. The appendix lists what each HSO requested and received.

Who do I contact with questions?

Email the Finance Committee Chair, Ayan Sarkar.

Meet the Finance Committee

Name Role
Ayan Sarkar Finance Committee Chair, 2026–27
Likhitha Chintareddy Finance Committee Member
Tobias Oestreich Finance Committee Member
Adlai Politi Finance Committee Member
Mike Zhao Finance Committee Member

All five members review every application, and each recuses from HSOs they belong to.

Resources

Suggested Vendors

Please visit the direct payments page for more information on payments to vendors.

Vendor Food Address Phone
Cedars Mediterranean Kitchen Mediterranean, Lebanese 1206 E 53rd St, Chicago, IL 60615 773-324-6227
Maravilla’s Mexican 5506 S Lake Park Ave, Chicago, IL 60615 773-955-7680
Medici on 57th Italian-American and other specialties; house account available 1327 E 57th St, Chicago, IL 60637 773-667-7394
Good Earth Catering Catering 3931 S Leavitt St, Chicago, IL 60609 773-893-0093
Giordano’s Chicago-style pizza 5311 S Blackstone Ave, Chicago, IL 60615 773-947-0200
Rajun Cajun American, Indian, Southern 1459 E 53rd St, Chicago, IL 60615 773-955-1145
Pho 55 Vietnamese 1611 E 55th St, Chicago, IL 60615 773-363-1515
The Sit Down Café & Sushi Bar Sushi, sandwiches, pizza, Italian 1312 E 53rd St, Chicago, IL 60615 773-324-3700
The Snail Thai Cuisine Thai 1649 E 55th St, Chicago, IL 60615 773-667-5423
Thai 55 Restaurant Thai 1607 E 55th St, Chicago, IL 60615 773-363-7119
Pizza Capri Pizza, Italian 1501 E 53rd St, Chicago, IL 60615 773-324-7777
Mellow Yellow American, burgers 1508 E 53rd St, Chicago, IL 60615 773-667-2000
Pockets Sandwiches, healthy food 1307 E 53rd St, Chicago, IL 60615 773-667-1313
A10 Hyde Park Italian, seafood 1642 E 53rd St, Chicago, IL 60615 773-288-1010
The Nile Restaurant Middle Eastern 1162 E 55th St, Chicago, IL 60615 773-324-9499
Noodles Etc. Thai 1333 E 57th St, Chicago, IL 60637 773-684-2801
Siam Thai Cuisine Thai 1639-43 E 55th St, Chicago, IL 60615 773-324-9296
Kikuya Japanese Restaurant Japanese, sushi 1601 E 55th St, Chicago, IL 60615 773-667-3727
Piccolo Mondo Café Italian, desserts, bakery 1642 E 56th St, Chicago, IL 60637 773-643-1106
Shinju Sushi Sushi, Japanese 1375 E 53rd St, Chicago, IL 60615 773-966-6669
Porkchop BBQ, American, Southern 1516 E Harper Ct, Chicago, IL 60615 773-493-9333
Plein Air Café European, sandwiches, coffee and tea 5751 S Woodlawn Ave, Chicago, IL 60637 773-966-7531
La Petite Folie French 1504 E 55th St, Chicago, IL 60615 773-493-1394
Nathan’s Taste of Jamaica Jamaican, seafood 1372 E 53rd St, Chicago, IL 60615 773-288-5353
Café 53 Sandwiches, desserts, café 1369 E 53rd St, Chicago, IL 60615 773-493-1000
Yusho Japanese 1301 E 53rd St, Chicago, IL 60615 773-643-1652

Policy documents

The committee’s Fall 2026 policy documents, to read online or download:

Appendix: allocations by HSO

HSO Requested Rollover + outside Eligible request Committee score Flat Flexible Allocated % of eligible Note
BAPPS $8,758 $1,350 $4,444 4.80 $208 $1,852 $2,060 46%
TAP $5,320 $1,251 $4,917 3.46 $208 $1,479 $1,690 34%
PFA $3,600 $1,603 $3,550 3.65 $208 $1,125 $1,330 37%
LAM $4,100 $2,636 $3,620 3.51 $208 $1,105 $1,310 36%
MASH $3,600 $1,721 $3,140 4.01 $208 $1,094 $1,300 41%
MiPPS $5,000 $3,716 $4,560 2.50 $208 $1,009 $1,220 27%
HEEA $6,950 $2,284 $3,510 3.26 $208 $994 $1,200 34%
SSC $3,550 $4,795 $3,515 2.65 $208 $809 $1,020 29%
OUTPolitik $3,260 $2,588 $1,798 2.93 $208 $458 $870 48% Committee adjustment: additional $200 for midterm-election programming.
UC3P $2,789 $1,828 $2,789 2.44 $208 $591 $800 29%
SASPA $3,000 $3,825 $2,343 2.28 $208 $463 $670 29%
PMPSA $2,300 $1,942 $1,934 2.57 $208 $431 $640 33%
ACPF $2,000 $1,303 $1,514 3.13 $208 $411 $620 41%
EPSA $1,700 $619 $1,400 2.82 $208 $343 $550 39%
HII $1,700 $730 $1,150 3.45 $208 $345 $550 48%
HNI $1,500 $1,013 $1,244 2.93 $208 $317 $530 43%
HIVE $1,625 $2,796 $1,554 2.20 $208 $297 $500 32%
RPD $980 $413 $798 3.91 $208 $271 $480 60%
WiPP $1,700 $1,166 $1,260 2.52 $208 $276 $480 38%
ALAS $1,380 $1,303 $1,000 2.48 $208 $215 $420 42%
HCA $1,540 $4,136 $916 2.21 $208 $176 $380 41%
Agora $965 $876 $719 2.33 $208 $145 $350 49%
HCC $750 $0 $400 2.39 $208 $83 $290 72%
MPP $4,000 $346 $4,000 2.10 $208 $729 $200 5% Committee adjustment. Can be revisited once an itemized event budget is submitted.

Data and code: github.com/A-Sarkar18/hsg-finance-transparency. Adapted from the HSG Finance Committee transparency report by Karen Yi.