The Undergraduate Student Government
at Michigan Technological University

Special Budget Groups

Special Budget Groups (SBGs) Impact Campus


6 Registered Student Organizations across campus are designated as Special Budget Groups at Michigan Tech. These groups run by students have an immense student impact and a need for a special budget process and policy that falls outside of the regular RSO budget process. All SBGs must follow Board of Trustees Policy 7.06.


These groups may host events, distribute news across campus, or deliver services to the entire Keweenaw through their broadcasting. However, all SBGs serve an important role of serving students across campus.

Your Current Special Budget Groups

These groups have been designated by the Undergraduate Student Government as important to students and the community. Each hold their own websites and information that changes based on the leadership, so please see their websites for events, information, and more!

Undergraduate Student Government

The Undergraduate Student Government is a Special Budget Group that holds special budgetary status to serve the undergraduate students across campus. They also are in charge of the Student Activity Fee as per the Board of Trustees Policy and must maintain that responsibility.


In addition, the Undergraduate Student Government hosts opportunities across campus for students to share their voice, through elections, town halls, and surveys!

Fiscal Year
2024
2025
2026
Allocated Budget
$9,500
$10,000
$10,000

Memorial Union (MUB) Board

MUB Board is known for hosting events and opportunities for all students across campus. Known for many different traditions that students and organizations participate, the entire organization focuses on making the student experience rich for a low (or no) cost!


One of the famous events, Spring Fling, enables organizations to host special experiences across campus when campus begins to warm up. MUB Board works diligently in the budgeting, planning, and execution to each of their events!

Fiscal Year
2024
2025
2026
Allocated Budget
$67,500
$68,500
$70,000

Sound and Lighting Services (SLS)

Sound and Lighting Services lights up the campus community! Between hosting numerous events on their own to engage students with professional-level performances, they also serve primarily as the main production provider across campus for departments, Registered Student Organizations, and community organizations that is used heavily. Technicians and managers learn production skills along with managing many forms of equipment, along with creating interactive and engaging events yearly.


Don't think you've seen them before? Think again! While it's a small fraction of what they do, they spotlight the hockey games introductions that you hopefully go to.

Fiscal Year
2024
2025
2026
Allocated Budget
$12,000
$15,000
$25,000

The Lode

Need to catch the weekly news? The Lode delivers weekly newspapers, stories, and events to the Student Assembly and community through their diligent journalism across campus. Every week, they print out and deliver newspapers across campus highlighting Student Life, Campus Events, Government News, and any other things going on that is of interest to the students.


Outside of printing the paper, writers and editors work around the clock to interview and fact check stories all across campus to get you the most up-to-date news each week. Plus, every April Fool's Day, they do a special edition called "The Lewd", parodying many stories across campus.

Fiscal Year
2024
2025
2026
Allocated Budget
$5,500
$7,500
$8,500

Film Board

Want to catch the latest movie? Film Board specializes in showing the top-notch films with top-notch facilities. Free to students, you can feel the impact of the big screen without driving to a theater. Film Board also organizes snacks and special themed nights year-round to keep students engaged. They also host tons of wonderful events, such as Movie on Walker Lawn in the evening during Orientation Week.

Fiscal Year
2024
2025
2026
Allocated Budget
$12,000
$24,000
$24,000

WMTU 91.9FM

Tune in on the radio to WMTU 91.9FM radio, where students run the show! Stationed in the basement of Wadsworth Hall, WMTU specializes in all sorts of shows and performances throughout the day. You might even find them broadcasting a show at night... There's really no telling what you could listen to, but you should tune your radios to 91.9FM to take a gander.


WMTU also serves as one of the music and sound providers and campus, teaming up with organizations to make events lively!

Fiscal Year
2024
2025
2026
Allocated Budget
$33,000
$35,000
$45,000

Stipend + Giveaway Transparency Information

Special Budget Groups are not beheld to the same restrictions as a Registered Student Organization due to their size and impact. As a result, some members on the SBGs get stipends every year for their increased amount of work. In addition, SBGs are permitted to spend money on give-away promotional items (stickers, etc.) to promote their organization across campus and beyond.


Stipend and giveaway spending are not a free for all! The SBG Council meets regularly to manage standing rules between organizations.

Stipends

USG

$750 per semester to Executive Board Members


$250 in the Spring to Ways and Means Members that participate in Budget Hearings

MUB Board

$1500 per semester total split up amongst Executive Board members (5 members, $150 each)


$1500 per semester total split up amongst committee chairs (5 members, $150 each)

The Lode

Executive Board and editors are paid through the Michigan Tech Writing Center as employed staff members (not paid through the Student Activity Fee)


$14 / hr - 5 Writing Center coaches maximum

SLS

Technicians, senior technicians, and managers are paid hourly for their work with a client. Labor costs are passed off to the client (not paid through the Student Activity Fee)


$13 / hr - Starting Pay

$15 / hr - Technicians

$16 / hr - Three Phase

$18 / hr - Senior Technicians

WMTU

Contracted employee broadcast engineer is paid per year as a necessity to operate the radio station.


No student members are paid.

Film Board

No stipends are paid

Bi-Annual Special Budget Group Review

Per the Undergraduate Student Government Bylaws, the Undergraduate Student Government performs an SBG review every two years at the start of the Spring semester.


All current Special Budget Groups are reviewed in context of their charge and mission statement, and any existing Registered Student Organization may apply to become a Special Budget Group based on their budgetary needs, campus impact, and other classifications that cannot be fulfilled simply by only being an RSO.


The review process is facilitated by the Undergraduate Student Government Treasurer and SBG status is conferred by the Undergraduate Student Government. Their decision is subject to appeal. If an organization feels like they were not fairly represented, they may appeal to the Dean of Students per Article XIX, Section 2 of the Undergraduate Student Government Bylaws.

usg@mtu.edu

(906) 487-2406

The Undergraduate Student Government is a Special Budgetary Group of Michigan Technological University. The Undergraduate Student Government's website is hosted on Michigan Tech property, and any and all logos that contain the Michigan Tech brand are owned by the university itself.