Student Association officials made it easier for student organizations to be SA recognized by lowering the amount of mandatory workshops from seven to two.

SA President Rob McCormack said it was “asking too much” of organizations to expect them to attend seven meetings.

The decision was a response to complaints from various organizations that some workshops were repetitive or did not apply to their interests, McCormack said.

“The general feedback was that it was too much,” McCormack said. Before the change, organizations had to attend two mandatory budget meetings plus five more meetings ranging from minority workshops to fundraising workshops. Eleven workshops are offered.

The two mandatory meetings involve preparing and spending an SA budget. Organizations that do not attend the budget meetings cannot receive SA funding.

SA Treasurer Mike Holy said only organizations funded by the SA are required to attend the meetings. “Organizations have to know how to prepare their budgets,” Holy said.

SA Vice President Tanya Smith said organization members could attend extra workshops if they felt they needed them.

“Now we are able to get smaller groups and individual groups who really need the help,” Smith said. “The leaders who want to come will come. They are the ones who will benefit most from them (workshops).”

She also said some smaller organizations were overwhelmed by the amount of information, and they needed extra attention.

Smith said, however, lowering the requirement means groups will not get all the information they need. “Every year there is going to be an organization who will say they did not know.”

McCormack said he hopes the new rule encourages new organizations to try for SA recognition.

The workshops are presented by University Programming and Activities and the SA to provide information, address concerns, and answer questions.