Student Enhancement Fund

Application Guidelines

Applications must be submitted at least 5 weeks prior to an event. Applications should be submitted using the orgsync form ( and must include a budget using the provided form (filled out to the best of the applicant’s ability).

Types of funding provided:

Student Enhancement Fund (SEF) applicants may request SEF funds for the following expenses:

  1. Travel expenses to and from the event
  2. Hotel lodging expenses for the duration of the event
  3. Registration costs for the event
  4. Per Diem/Living expenses for the duration of the event

Methods of travel (ex. Charter bus, plane, etc.) and hotel lodging must be selected and reviewed under the guidance of the Student Enhancement Fund Facilitator and the guidelines of the WWU AS Travel Policy prior to application approval.

Applicants may be granted partial to full funding via the approval of the Student Enhancement Fund Committee.

Types of events that applicants may attend with SEF funds:

Events that applicants request SEF funds for must be academic/educational events, programs, seminars, workshops, or other unique opportunities that result in the professional or personal development of the student applicant upon completion of the event, program, etc. Examples of events that may be funded include:

  • Academic conferences
  • Intercollegiate competitions
  • Career fairs
  • Professional development workshops
  • Cultural awareness/development retreats

Please note that events that applicants may attend with SEF fundsare not limited to the above event examples.

Requests for funding/Costs that will not receive SEF funding include:

  • Administrative costs (ex. Event staff salaries, etc.)
  • Core academic costs (ex. Textbooks, tuition, etc.)
  • Credit-bearing activities such as: 1) credit-bearing faculty-led university programs, 2) credit-bearing study abroad and other travel activities, 3) credit-bearing internships, workshops or programs.
  • Travel, lodging or per diem expenses for any third parties (persons not included in the SEF application, persons unaffiliated with WWU) or contracted WWU guests, speakers, etc.
  • Property or equipment rental expenses that occur during the applicant’s participation of the event

Applicant requirements:

  1. The applicant must be a current Western Washington University full-term student (6 credits or more per quarter).
  2. The applicant may be an Associated Students (AS) employee, but may not be an Associated Students employee representing an AS office for the duration of the application process and participation of the event.
  3. The applicant must not be a Western Washington University faculty member or non-student employee.
  4. The applicant must be willing to share and present their experiences at the annual Conferences & Opportunities Fair during Spring Quarter of the academic year SEF funding was received.

In addition to areas specified in the e-form, preference is given to applicants that meet the following criteria (not in order):

  1. Are representing WWU at the event
  2. Are attending a competitive event.
  3. Are attending a selective event.
  4. Will potentially bring positive change to student communities at WWU
  5. Will gain professional skills from the event
  6. Are attending an event that will positively impact their educational/academic experience at WWU
  7. Are attending an event that will positively impact the professional future of the applicant

Applicants are not required to meet all the above criteria to receive preference.

For AS-affiliatedapplicants:

Although the Student Enhancement Fund is open to all applicants who are full-term WWU students, alternate sources of student funding are available to AS-affiliated applicants through the:

  • AS Activities Council
  • ESC Steering Fund Committee
  • Sustainable Action Fund
  • Student Development Fund (for AS employees)

If funds are available, AS-affiliated applicants will be redirected to the appropriate source of student funding to receive financial support. If the applicant is turned away by the above funds due to lack of funds or inability to provide funding by the time of the AS-affiliated applicant’s application, the applicant will then be able to request financial support from the SEF Fund.

For applicants representing an Academic Department/attending Academic Departmental events:

Although the SEF Fund is open to all applicants who are full-term WWU students, alternate sources of student funding may be available to applicants that are representing a WWU academic department or are seeking to attend academic departmental events (ex. DRAC funding).

Contact your departmental advisor for any possible sources of department-specific scholarships or funding before utilizing the SEF Fund.