Starting in Fall 2023, the Law School has initiated a new policy regarding using University-held funds for non-business related activities!
The Law School will reimburse for food and non-alcoholic beverages at in-person Law School meetings and events. The Law School will not reimburse for social events (e.g. rafting trips, playing laser tag, bowling, attending professional sporting events, going to the movies, wine tasting, or any similar entertainment events). This policy applies to all use of funds processed by the Law School regardless of its source (e.g. SABL, law Journal funds, Alumni Accounts, Centers, Departments). If you are unclear whether it is something that can be reimbursed by the Law School please check in advance, before any money is spent, with the Journal Administrator (who will be in contact with Law School management).
Journals are still able to partake in these types of activities, however, they will need to be funded by external means- membership dues, external checking accounts, members.
Journals earn revenue from subscriptions, royalties, reprint permissions, and fundraising. This money is held by the University, and as such, subject to university policy and regulations. Expenditures from these accounts must have a clear connection to the business purpose of a scholarly journal.
Even if an expenditure is 'allowable' you must have the funds available in order to purchase it!
Examples of allowable expenditures with a clear business purpose include (though are not limited to):
* though these type of expenditures are 'allowable', there are a lot of variables for which UC and Law School policies regulate what/ how/ and when they must be handled. It is imperative to discuss these events AHEAD OF TIME with the Journal Administrator to ensure that they are planned in a manner so that expenses/ purchases/ reimbursements will be made.
Though the following items CANNOT be purchased using your university funds, they may be paid for using membership dues which are held in your journal's external checking account:
(PER THE UPDATED LAW SCHOOL POLICY EFFECTIVE FALL 2023)
With reduced incoming revenue, just because something is an ‘allowable’ expenditure under UC Policy, is it a smart use of your funds?
Offset less (or zero!) incoming revenue with smarter fiscal spending habits:
Declining revenue is never going to ‘rebound’, so keep in mind that you’re spending your journal’s reserves and against your journal’s financial future
Swag, such as journal t-shirts, mugs and the like are allowable expenditures using your journal funds, however:
Swag may only be purchased from approved UC Berkeley licensed vendors (i.e., Berkeley Law/Student Org branded apparel or items). Please also be aware that there is a $75 per student, per semester, per student organization cap on swag and a $300 total per semester cap on the total monetary value of gifts that a student may receive.