The Graduate and Professional Allocations Committee (GPAC) is responsible for reviewing funding requests from over 500 student organizations on campus and making funding recommendations to Graduate and Professional Student Organization (GPSG).

GPAC is composed of students representing the seven GPSG member governments to review and allocate funds––Graduate College, Carver College of Medicine, College of Dentistry, College of Law, College of Pharmacy, College of Public Health, and College of Nursing.

GPAC's undergraduate counterpart is the Student Auditing Budgeting and Allocations Committee (SABAC). GPAC works closely with the GPSG President and the Student Organization Business Office (SOBO) to serve and support student activities both on- and off-campus.

GPAC intends to broaden its reach among student organizations by representatives from different colleges and through events and social media. 

If you have questions about how GPAC makes funding decisions, please email the GPAC Director. If you want to learn more about University policies for student organizations, how to use Engage, and other resources for your student organization, visit the Leadership, Service, and Civic Engagement's page on Organization Management. If you have questions about access to or technical issues with the Engage platform, please contact Leadership, Service, & Civic Engagement at dsl-leadandserve@uiowa.edu or (319) 335-3059.

How to Apply for Student Org Funding

This LINK may help in addition to the steps outlined below. 

• Step 1: Log into Engage using your own UIowa log-in
• Step 2: Along the left bar, hover over the icon for your student org. The icon should show a blue and white gear when you hover over it. Click on that gear. (If your student org does not exist in the left bar, please make sure you are a member of the student org on Engage. Contact the email for Sam Jacobs samuel-jacobs@uiowa.edu, for assistance related to Engage.)
• Step 3: Click on a dropdown menu listed as "Finance." (If you do not see "Finance," please make sure you are listed as a Treasurer/Account Signer for your student org on Engage. Your student org's President should be able to make changes to how you are listed on Engage. If you continue to run into trouble, please contact the email for Sam Jacobs samuel-jacobs@uiowa.edu for assistance.)
• Step 4: Click on  "Create Request" and then "Create Budget Request."
• Step 5: Select the appropriate GPSG Funding Request form (Regular Funding Cycle vs Rapid Funding Process) and submit Regular Funding Cycle requests by the deadlines listed below. Please note that you will be asked to resubmit your funding request if it was not submitted using the appropriate form.
• Step 6: Wait for the review committee's recommendations (see "Review Process" below). 

Fiscal Year 2025–2026 Student Org Budget Deadlines

In an effort to serve your student organizations' needs GPSG is utilizing a funding model consisting of three equally funded periods. Each period, approximately $30,000-$35,000 will be available for allocation. GPAC will be prioritizing requests based on the dates of expenditures. Please use the GPAC Funding Tenets below to decide when to apply for funding to maximize your chances of successfully funding your organization. Requests occurring outside of the recommended time period will be considered if funds are available through the GPAC Rapid Funding Process (more details below). 

GPAC Funding Tenets

When GPAC reviews your application for funds, they rely on the annually revised GPAC Funding Tenets. You should use this document to help ensure you have a complete, and realistic budget proposal. 

GPAC Funding Guidelines and Tenets 2025-2026

Please note that GPAC will only fund an event ONE (1) time. If your student organization receives partial or full funding, it may not request further funding for that event. GPAC may choose to deny funding altogether and ask that you request funding again through one of the two funding processes (rapid funding vs regular funding) to give your student organization the best chance of receiving the maximum amount of funding requested. 

Review Process

• Regular Funding Cycles
  • Requests are due by the deadlines outlined above and should follow the GPAC Funding Tenets for maximum funding consideration.
  • Late submissions will be denied with no exceptions.
• Rapid Funding Process
  • All funding requests for events occurring at least 2 weeks after a regular funding request deadline and were not able to submit a Regular Funding Cycle request should utilize this submission process.
  • A maximum of $500 per event can be requested.
  • Requests should be submitted a minimum one week before your scheduled event to allow the voting process to occur and a decision to be handed down before any expenditures are made.
  • Decisions will usually be made within 5 business days of final request submission when classes are in session.
  • Any expenditures made prior to funding approval risks being out-of-pocket if your request is denied or only partially approved.
  • GPAC reserves the right to deny voting on rapid funding requests submitted within the one week minimum of the event occurring. 

The Final Decision

GPAC does not make the final decision on student org funding; they make a recommendation to the GPSG delegates, who are elected representatives of the graduate and professional student body. Because the delegates make the final funding decision, student orgs wishing to contest GPAC's recommendation must make their case directly to the delegates. In order to do so, student orgs must alert the GPAC Director of their intent to appear before the delegates via email at least 24 hours before GPSG is scheduled to meet. GPSG meeting dates are posted on the webpage. 

Post Funding Requirements

• AS SOON AS POSSIBLE: Please make sure you submit an event form on Engage at least four weeks, or as soon as possible, before your event (and ensuring it gets approved before the event occurs) and then work with SOBO to access the funding. 

  • You may not submit the event form the day before your event and expect it to be approved. 

  • The Office of Leadership, Service, and Civic Engagement oversees the approval of Engage event submissions so please reach out to them if you are having difficulty with your event being approved. 

  • Please note that expenses should match what has been approved. 

• Advertising and Marketing
  • If your student organization was allocated funding from GPAC, your organization must include either of the GPSG logos below on your marketing and advertising paperwork, e.g. fliers, posters etc.
  • GPSG Logo
• To make a TAX-EXEMPT LOCAL PURCHASE or TAX-EXEMPT ONLINE PURCHASE: Procurement-cards (known as p-cards) can be checked out from SOBO at the IMU using the P-card Request Form. Please complete the form and email it to SOBO at least 1-2 business days in advance of your requested checkout date.
  • These cards act as credit cards and can be checked out overnight for 1 business day.
  • When returning the p-card to SOBO, please also turn in an itemized receipt(s) for your purchase(s). 

  • In the event you overspend the approved amount stated in your funding request on a p-card, your student org may be denied future GPAC funding.

  • Upon SOBO request, please send them a list of attendees to your event.
• To request reimbursement for a TAXED LOCAL PURCHASE or TAXED ONLINE PURCHASE made using a personal credit/debit card: Please complete the Member Reimbursement Form and email it to SOBO.
  • Everything above "MFK to charge" needs to be completed as well as the "Payee Signature" and date at the bottom of the form.
  • Attach an ITEMIZED receipt that clearly shows the last four digits of the credit/debit card used to make the purchase. Non-itemized receipts, receipts not showing the last four digits of the card used, and invoices will not be accepted.
  • Please note that tax will be included in the allocations approved by GPAC.
  • Reimbursement can only be requested up to the amount approved by GPAC in your funding request(s). Any excess expenses will be out-of-pocket for the student org.
• For AMAZON orders: Please complete the Amazon Order Form and send it to SOBO for purchasing authorization.
  • Allow up to 5 business days for the order to arrive (if shipping via Amazon Prime) and more time for other orders.
  • All Amazon orders should be placed by the University and shipped to a University mailing address.
• For TRAVEL-RELATED REIMBURSEMENT: Please complete the Travel Expense Voucher and email it to SOBO after your travel has concluded to request reimbursement.
• For CHANGING EXISTING FUNDING PURPOSES: If you require changing the purpose of already approved funding, please email a completed GPAC Funding Amendment Form to the GPAC Director.
  • The repurposed funding should be for future events, not for events retroactively. 

GPAC Representatives 2025-2026

Rules and Regulations

• Policies Affecting Student Organizations
• GPAC Bylaws