The Wichita State Student Government Association approved changes in how it funds individual students and organizations requesting funding Wednesday.

SGA limits the funding requests for students and organizations to one each semester, and it clarifies the process of requesting funds.

Senator Aidan Cattermole questioned the change.

“How is capping the students at one funding request per semester beneficial?” Cattermole asked. “What if somebody has more than one thing that needs funding?”

SGA Legislative Director Andrew Longhofer said the changes stop “frivolous requests.”

“We want to maximize the number of students that can receive funding,” Longhofer said. “By limiting it to one, you request funding for the one you are passionate about and you make sure your request is done correctly.”

In the past, students and organizations could profit from SGA by receiving funding from SGA and other sources for the same expenses. 

SGA treasurer Matt Conklin said a stipulation in the amendment prevents that in future cases.

“In the past, people could request funding items — registration, lodging or airfare — from their department and then request the same amount from us and essentially double-dip and profit,” Conklin said.

The limits on funding and requests do not go into effect until July — the beginning of the next fiscal year.

SGA passed that amendment and three others to the Legislative Journal.

The journal contains the rules and procedures for SGA’s operations. The changes passed unanimously.

The three other amendments were changed and address the maintenance of SGA’s records, the election of SGA members to committee positions and how SGA officials are paid.

Two funding bills were also passed.

The first bill was for two organizations to attend conferences. The bill provided funding in the amount of $2,096.69 for registration, travel and lodging. 

The second bill provided funding for a graduate student to attend a conference and present her research. The bill provided funding for registration, travel, and lodging in the amount of $685. 

SGA meets again at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday in Room 203 of the Rhatigan Student Center.