USC Student Clubs Face Funding Crisis

0:00On April 21st, student government at the University of South Carolina is facing funding shortages for student clubs running out of cash by late February this spring. Their budget sits at $185,000 for the 2025-2026 year split between fall and spring. The student organization funding assistance board, or SOFAB, also depleted its $120,000 early, forcing undergrad groups to scramble, clubs rely on reimbursements for trips, gear and events, but with money gone, they've turned to personal funds or cutbacks. A new partial funding system uses a point rubric based on event quality, location, and learning outcomes, helping stretch dollars further than before. In past years, budgets around $180,000 often lasted until April, but two of the last four springs saw funds dry up by, January, groups like GameCock Scooba and Robotics hit hard. Scooba couldn't cover full dive trips or Airbnb's while Robotics dropped competitors and dipped

1:03into. Education savings for immediate Auburn. Collegiate Deca skip funding altogether due to communication glitches and canceled workshops. Leaders say these issues deter wasteful events, but still leave clubs needing alternatives like big sales or networks. This year, they funded 72 organizations, up from 20 or 50 previously, with more getting top-tier shares and a $10,000 cap per group to spread it even. Still, $90,000 in unused allocations await return, tying up the pot. Looking ahead, officials push for model tweaks like percentage reimbursements, better submission tracking, or hiking the student activity fee to pump, and more cash and keep clubs diving deep without drowning in debt.