USG will be partially suspending student fee funding and requests for Tier II funding after concerns about the spread of COVID-19. USG will consider reimbursement for fees as a result of travel cancellations on a case by case basis, according to the letter. Photo by The Daily Campus/File Photo
The University of Connecticut Undergraduate Student Government (USG) will be partially suspending student fee funding and requests for Tier II funding after rising concerns about the spread of COVID-19, according to a letter sent Tuesday night.
“Due to concerns about COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019), the Undergraduate Student Government, based on guidance from State and University Officials, is partially suspending student fee funding, effective immediately, until further notice,” USG Comptroller Fabio R. Saccomanno said.
The letter identified travel and registration for events outside of Connecticut, as well as funding for events involving off-campus travelers, as categories that will be impacted by this suspension.
“We will continue to process funding requests for unaffected categories for as long as we are able,” Saccomanno said. “We will do our best to notify you of such changes quickly.”
Regarding Tier-II funding, requests for purchase orders that have already been issued will be funded as normal. Requests for funding in affected categories that remain in the review process or for which a payment or purchase order has not been issued are suspended, the letter said.
“If you have already paid (partially or fully) for suspended expenses that you are expecting reimbursements for, please get in contact with me by email immediately,” Saccomanno said. “I encourage you to attempt to recover any funds that you have personally paid.”
USG will consider reimbursement for fees as a result of travel cancellations on a case by case basis, according to the letter.
Saccomanno said all groups are encouraged to cancel trips or events that may be affected by the funding suspension, regardless of whether or not payment has been made. The steps necessary to receive reimbursement from USG are listed in the letter.
Students can continue to send in funding requests for unaffected categories, but should note that approval for these requests may be suspended for the remainder of the semester, the letter said.
“I will be holding extra office hours this week from 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Thursday and from 10:00 a.m. to noon on Friday in addition to my normal office hours,” Saccomanno said. “Please see me in person with any urgent matters.”
Amanda Kilyk is a campus correspondent for The Daily Campus. She can be reached at amanda.kilyk@uconn.edu.
