The Associated Students of Madison’s Student Services Finance Committee approved the budget for the Veterans, Educators and Traditional Students for fiscal year 2014-2015 and heard a budget presentation from the Greater University Tutoring Service at a meeting on Thursday.

Veterans, Educators and Traditional Students 

After discussion on the advertising budget line and program budget, SSFC representatives voted 10-0-1 to fund VETS’s requested budget of $33,674.

SSFC Rep. Brett Ducharme said VETS’s advertising budget was too high and he moved to cut $2,000 from their advertising budget.

SSFC Rep. Devon Maier, who said he thought striking $2,000 was too strict, proposed a $1,200 cut from VETS’s advertising line, which was passed.

Maier also proposed an amendment on the program budget by striking $800 from the budget for two educational speakers but the proposal was voted down.

Greater University Tutoring Services

GUTS requested a budget of $148,762.06 for fiscal year 2014-2015, a 14.5 percent decrease from their budget the previous fiscal year.

GUTS is dedicated to connecting UW students with volunteer tutors for assistance with academic courses, study skills, conversational English and intercultural exchange, according to the organization’s website.

Andrew Mangham, GUTS co-director, said GUTS took previous years budgets into account, examined current needs in the office and removed redundant positions when deciding their budget plan for the next fiscal year.

GUTS shifted to 33 wage-eligible weeks from 35 weeks in the current fiscal year and decreased budget in areas of advertising, computer software/hardware, tutor resources and training, equipment, office supplies and different events, Alice Reznickova, GUTS co-director, said.

Only two line items, the Study Day budget and travel expenses to attend a national conference, increased, Mangham said. These were based on previous expenditures and external factors, she said.

Maier asked why it is important to have the Tutor Appreciation event.

“Appreciation creates motivation,” Reznickova said.

She added that their tutors are volunteers and they don’t get anything from the job, so it is important to have the event to retain them.

SSFC will vote on GUTS’s budget and hear proposals from Promoting Awareness, Victim Empowerment and Movimiento Estudiantil Chicano de Aztlán at their next meting Monday.