Campus Dept | Student Opportunity Fund (SOF)

The Student Opportunity Fund (SOF) provides funds to registered student organizations for on-campus co-curricular events and activities & to individual students for educational focused experiences like conferences and professional meetings. Welcome to the home page of the Student Opportunity Fund (SOF). SOF provides funds to registered student organizations for co-curricular events and activities & to individual students for educational focused experiences like conferences and professional meetings. If you are traveling, please consider applying for funding through either the ASUC or the Graduate Assembly. If your registered student organization is hosting an event on-campus, please consider applying for funding through either the ASUC Grant & Scholarship Foundation or the Graduate Assembly GRSO Funding. Purpose The SOF is designed to provide support for events/activities, both co-curricular and educational, for Cal students. --SOF supports programs that foster a greater sense of campus community and that are conducive to free intellectual exchange.--SOF encourages more interaction and educational experiences for students outside of the classroom, such as visiting speakers, forums on topics of general interest, and special campus panel discussions. About the Fund Requests for SOF funds are submitted through the application on the forms tab and are funded on a rolling basis only during the academic year. Requests for both Co-Curricular and Educational Opportunities must be submitted at least two weeks prior to the first day of the event/activity – no exceptions. Co-Curricular Opportunities (student events and publications) This fund provides monetary support to collaborative events/activities planned by and for UC Berkeley students. One of the objectives of this fund is to support programs that foster a greater sense of campus community that is conducive to free intellectual exchange; advance knowledge, such as visiting speakers or forums on topics of general interest; and support the initial creation of a student publication. Additionally, this fund is designed to encourage increased interaction outside of the classroom. Students are encouraged to craft proposals that will provide opportunities for UC Berkeley students to gain valuable leadership experience and knowledge. Please submit only one event per co-curricular request (a request with multiple events listed will be denied). Funding requests are encouraged to demonstrate:--Unique opportunity or experience for its participants--Promotion of an issue/cause relevant to UC Berkeley students--Significant contribution to the student body--A broad view of cultural experiences and knowledge Who can apply for these funds? All registered student organizations are encouraged to apply. NOTE: Your organization will need to work with an OASIS, bridges, F&S Life, or Student Government advisor. Please visit student engagement and leadership to become more familiar with event planning guidelines and restrictions. Educational Opportunities (off-campus domestic travel) This fund provides support for student access to educational experiences "beyond the classroom," such as to professional meetings, research conferences, and academic competitions. Due to limited funds, a student can only receive one (1) Educational Opportunity award during the academic year. Funding requests are encouraged to demonstrate: --Potential for the advancement of research or the promotion of academic success--Orientation toward academic or professional development--Direct relationship to the individual's declared major, field of study, or current course load SOF Director Discretionary Funds This year, there are one-time available funds for initiatives that have substantial campus impact. The SOF Director will review requests and if a request has substantial campus impact, the SOF Director will ask the student organization/student to meet with the SOF Director to discuss the request. The SOF Director will decide, no later than two weeks following the meeting, if additional funds will be granted Who can apply for these funds? All registered students are encouraged to apply. Note: For any event/activity that conflicts with your course schedule, you will need to review the campus guidelines related to missing classes and fulfilling academic requirements. General Guidelines To be considered for funding, the project must: --Demonstrate clarity of goals and thoroughness of planning.--Adhere to University policies, campus regulations, and established procedures--Provide detailed budget to support the event/activity--Include information on attempts for additional and/or alternative funding--Establish measures to prevent exclusion or alienation of any community--Co-curricular events/activities must be sponsored by a registered student organization If funding is granted, all paperwork associated with the expenses/reimbursements must be submitted within three (3) weeks following the event or funds will be forfeited. Restrictions Funds will not be awarded for: --Proposals submitted less than two weeks before the start of the event/activity. --Co-curricular events and/or educational opportunities that have occurred prior to the submission of the SOF request (no retroactive applications will be accepted). --International travel. --Food and lodging associated with domestic travel. --Ongoing educational experiences. Please apply for funding for one trip associated with the ongoing educational experience. --Commuting expenses related to research or volunteer activities. –Clothes/professional attire. Professional clothing and accessories are not reimbursable. --Support for research projects, research work, or thesis research. --Support for the publishing of a thesis. --Graduate school tours. --Relocation costs or expenses. --Educational opportunities occurring after June 1, 2024. --Off campus events/activities (excludes educational opportunities). –Insurance costs for off-campus events. --On-going operating expenses. --Stipends or salaries. --Political events/activities unless all sides of an issue are presented. --Religious services. --Alcohol. --Scholarship funds associated with co-curricular requests. --ASUC funds used for expenses related to the co-curricular opportunity. --Funding towards any costs associated with an event that did not occur (any cancellation costs). --Fees charged by the student club or organization. --Graduations. --Academic course or decal operation expenses, including texts, readers, field trips, and other expenses. SOF will not provide funding for any expenses related to academic courses or decals. --Programs/Events designed to raise funds for off-campus agencies. SOF will not provide funding for events/activities/projects in which revenue is being given to a non-campus entity or nonprofit organization. --Summer events/activities (events/activities taking place outside of the academic year). Please note: –SOF funding does not carry over for any educational opportunities or any co-curricular events. --SOF will provide funding support to publications only once, and not on an on-going basis. --Payment checks for honoraria are paid once the event/activity is completed and all required paperwork has been properly submitted. --Student organizations planning conferences happening (on-campus or virtually) should be submitted as a co-curricular opportunity and not as an educational opportunity. Student Opportunity Fund (SOF) FAQ Who can submit proposals? Either registered students or registered student groups. I notice that there are two categories for funding. Can one project qualify as both an Educational and a Co-curricular event/activity? No. Can I apply more than once? Due to limited funds, a student can only receive one (1) Educational Opportunity award during the academic year. Where can I pick up a funding request? All funding requests must be submitted through the application towards the bottom of this page. When are funding requests due? Funding requests are accepted on a rolling basis during the academic year but must be submitted at least two weeks prior to the start of the event/activity. Can I submit a funding request after an event/activity has passed? No. Retroactive funding requests are not accepted. Funding requests must be submitted at least two weeks prior to the start of the event/activity. Can I revise a request once it has been submitted? Yes, unless the request is already under review. When will we be notified of the selection committee's decision? The selection committee reviews funding requests as they are submitted. If you have fully completed your funding request, you will be notified by e-mail of the committee's decision within two weeks of submitting a funding request. How much can I receive? Due to limited funds, the maximum amount for a Co-Curricular Opportunity is $5,000. The maximum amount for the Educational Opportunity is $2,800 for an individual. Can I be reimbursed for purchases using airline miles? Purchases using airline miles are not eligible expenses. There will be no reimbursements for purchases using airline miles. Can I use previous flight credits to purchase airline tickets? Please do not use previous flight credits to purchase a flight as there will be no reimbursements associated with the previous flight credits. How does the funding work? If your request is successful, you will receive an email from the Student Opportunity Fund Committee acknowledging your award. That email will tell you how much you have been awarded and the steps that you must follow in order to obtain the funds. Can I apply for funding for an event/activity that will be held next academic year? No. Can a registered student group apply for more than one event/activity in an academic year? Yes, but please understand that funds are limited and previous requests will be taken into consideration when approving subsequent requests. SOF is not intended to be the sole funding source for your event or organization. Do I need to have insurance for my event/activity? What about Security? Yes, the advisors in OASIS can provide guidance on insurance and security requirements for campus events/activities. Do I need to be a Registered Student Organization (RSO) in order to receive funding from the SOF? Yes. If your group is not currently an RSO, please go to lead.berkeley.edu to learn how to become one. Who can I contact if I have more questions? Please email sof@berkeley.edu. We are happy to answer any questions. Request Forms Co-curricular Opportunities Request Educational Opportunities Request Additional Funding Options Here's some additional funding resources to help with co-curricular events/activities. For educational opportunities, check with your department, the ASUC Grant & Scholarship Foundation, the funding opportunities through the Graduate Assembly, and crowdfunding your trip. You can visit 432 Eshleman Hall, 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM, Monday-Friday, or contact them at (510) 642-5171 or at sof@berkeley.edu.