Community Emergency and Enhancement Fund
The Community Emergency and Enhancement Fund provides financial support for projects and/or activities by a student or group of students that fall into one of two categories. First, CEEF provides funding for longer term student-led initiatives that enhance the Brandeis community. Secondly, CEEF provides short-term emergency funding for student life on campus. These initiatives must have a campus-wide benefit and measurable impact on the campus and community.
CEEF Board
CEEF is overseen by the CEEF Subcommittee of the Allocations Board. This Subcommittee consists of 5 elected members of the Allocations Board. One of the Co-Chairs shall concurrently serve as the Chair of the CEEF Subcommittee.
Eligibility
All applications for funding from CEEF must be put forward by Brandeis University undergraduates currently enrolled as full-time or part-time students at the university. No chartered or secured club or organization, or Student Union special projects receiving funding from the Student Union, may submit an application for funding on its behalf. All projects will require Brandeis Administration (staff/faculty) to attest to the technical viability of the project.
Procedure
The CEEF Subcommittee makes decisions on funding in the Fall semester. Below are the general guidelines for how submitting a proposal works:
- At the start of the Fall Semester, the Allocations Board will publish a timeline of the CEEF application process.
- After the deadline for submission has passed, the CEEF Subcommittee will schedule a time with each student or group of students who have submitted a proposal to present their initiative to the Subcommittee.
- The CEEF Subcommittee, after deliberating on all project proposals, will vote to either approve, partially approve, or deny funding for each project.
- After funding has been approved, the Subcommittee and University Administration will communicate with the applicants on the logistics of rolling out this initiative.
Evaluation
The CEEF Subcommittee will review all applications on the following criteria, keeping in mind that funding is limited.
1. Impact - all projects should be evaluated with regards to their short and long term impacts upon the following areas:
- Immediate Operational Impact - how will the project affect student life once completed?
- Long Term Durability - how likely is it that this project will endure and affect life on campus over the long term?
- Community Impact – impact upon the larger Brandeis community, including students, faculty, staff and any potential impacts on the larger Waltham area.
2. Financial Viability - all projects should be evaluated both short and long-term on their financial viability including:
- Cost-benefit analysis – effective use of funds
- Potential financial risk
- Cost assumptions
3. Technical Viability – all projects should be evaluated both long and short-term on their technical viability including:
- Feasibility of implementation on campus
- Any increased demand for resources that will continue after the CEEF funding has been exhausted
Emergency Funding Proposals:
CEEF proposals that are considered Emergency Funding shall additionally be judged on its necessity. All applications should demonstrate an immediate need of short-term funding. Emergency funding will only be granted for projects that address current needs on campus. Emergency funding is not for new projects or initiatives.
Submission Instructions:
To submit your application, please email aboard@brandeis.edu with the subject line “CEEF Application”
Past Projects
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- Gosman weight room equipment repair and replacement - Replacing and restoring all outdated and unsafe equipment and machines in the second floor weight room. Will be implemented summer ‘24. Project led by Mo Re Kim ‘24. $102,420.87 was allocated for this project.
- Condom bags for CAs - Placed bags of condoms, lube, and other safe sex materials in each floor of the first year halls to promote sexual safety and health. Project was ongoing for spring semester ‘24. Project led by Abby Novia ‘24. $4,708.66 was allocated for this project.
- ICC Signage - Ordered large wall clings for the ICC to increase visibility and signage. Will be implemented summer ‘24. Project led by Rani Balakrishna ‘25. $2,374.50 was allocated for this project.
- Sherman Door Openers - Ordered and will install buttons to ease the opening of notoriously heavy and difficult doors at Sherman dining hall. Will be implemented summer ‘24. Project led by Eamonn Golden ‘24 and David Cahn ‘26. $25,990 was allocated for this project.
- Radar Speed Detectors - Placed speed detectors around parts of campus with low visibility and higher speed traffic to increase pedestrian safety. Implemented spring ‘24 semester. Project led by Kai Kibilko ‘25 and David Cahn ‘26. $13,098.65 was allocated for this project.
- Red Cross CPR Equipment - Purchased new Red-Cross specific CPR equipment and materials in order to provide free CPR classes to the Brandeis community. Implemented spring semester ‘24, CPR classes available. Project led by Annetta Venford ‘25 on behalf of BEMCo. $8,069.08 was allocated for this project.
- SCC Theatre Renovation - Renovating and replacing the fire curtain and other backstage equipment in the student-run SCC theatre. To be implemented in summer ‘24. Project led by laurel Davidoff ‘25 and Jake Franklin ‘25. $87,831.48 was allocated for this project.
CEEF Committee Members 23-24
Lexi Lazar, CEEF Chair
Cindy Chi (Fall), Anna Weiss (Spring), Allocations Board Representatives
Aima Nadeem Chaudhary (Fall), Eamonn Golden (Spring), Senate Representatives
Sophie Kaye, Stephen Gaughan, CEEF Representatives
Deepa Khatri, Budget Analyst and Advisor
- I am Brandeis Menstrual Product Pilot Program - Placed free menstrual product dispensers in first year residence halls to ease access to these products. Implemented fall ‘22 semester. Project sponsored by Period Activists at Deis (PAD). $22,380 was allocated for this project.
- Ziv Quad Water Filling Stations - Purchased water-bottle filling stations for Ziv Quad to reduce single-use plastics. Implemented spring ‘23 semester. Project sponsored by Carina Luo ‘24. $25,509 was allocated for this project.
- Village Gym Equipment - New equipment was purchased for the exercise room located in Village Residence Hall. Implemented summer ‘23. Project sponsored by Mo Re Kim ‘24. $73,500 was allocated for this project.
- Brandeis Counselling Center Accessibility Ramp - Installed a wheelchair-accessible ramp from loop road to the Brandeis Counseling Center, which was previously inaccessible. Implemented summer ‘23. Project sponsored by Hana Miller ‘25. $100,000 was allocated for this project.
CEEF Committee Members 22-23
Tyler Carruth, CEEF Chair
Elisha Gordan (Fall), Jaqueline Floro (Spring), Allocations Board Representatives
Eve Begelman (Fall), Eamonn Golden (Spring), Senate Representative
Carolina Jacobs, Ariel Schultz, CEEF Representatives
Deepa Khatri, Budget Analyst and Advisor
- The Branda App - Branda is a mobile app designed and managed by a team of students - The Branda Team. The app will make many of the on-campus resources easier to use and access which includes the Branvan, laundry, Work Orders, and other crucial resources to all the students on campus. Project led by Tal Richtman. $21000 was allocated for this project.
- Shapiro Campus Center Graphic Display - Project includes the installation of an easy-to-access television in the Shapiro Campus Center (SCC). This television will be used to market on-campus events that are run through clubs, the student union and the Department of Student Activities. This will be a fantastic way to broadcast your event to the entire student body and will be a great resource for all the students to learn about and participate in events on campus . Project led by Aaron Finkel ‘24. $3800 was allocated for this project.
- Library Treadmill Project - This project installed treadmills in Farber, these treadmills are quiet and only have a walk function. They have been shown to improve studying in many other college students and we are excited to partner with the library to continue to enhance the student experience on this campus. Project led by Christof Rindlisbacher and Adrian Ashley. $10,000 was allocated for this project.
- Berlin Chapel Revitalization Project - The Project refurbished and renovated the Berlin Chapel, a space that is enjoyed by many groups on campus. This included renovation of two of the rooms in the chapel: the Rabbi Study and the Cohen Study. These renovated spaces include board games, whiteboards for studying, and comfortable seating. Project led by Alex Friedman’19. $18,000 was allocated for this project.
- Condom Dispenser Project - This project helps promote sexual safety by implementing condom dispensing machines throughout the freshman and sophomore dorms. Attached to the walls and hallways, the dispensers provide a quick and easy way for students to get free condoms right outside their rooms. It is part of a campaign that has partnered with SSIS to promote safe sex throughout the Brandeis campus. Project led by Leah Fernandez’ ‘22.
- BEMCo Stop the Bleed - Brandeis University joined the Stop the Bleed campaign in 2019-2020. BEMCo's This project financed the training of BEMCo members to control bleeding in an emergency situation. Medkits were bought and set up in key campus locations to provide the necessary equipment in dealing with emergency bleeding. Project led by Michele Etzbach