MEdac
The ME Discretionary-Fund Allocation Committee (MEDAC) is a committee of five or more students, elected yearly by all eligible ME students that meets regularly in open meetings with the advice of staff and faculty and decides how to spend the college based fees. This program was initiated by a student referendum in 2003 (under the name MESFAC) when all College of Engineering students agreed to increase their own student fees starting at $200 per quarter with cost of living increases with the understanding that 100% of the funds would go to their own department and the spending would be directed by students for enhancement of the program.
Over the years, MEDAC has supported a broad range of items including additional courses, new lab equipment, course development, student projects and club activities. Starting in 2022, the funding source transferred to the Mechanical Engineering Department’s discretionary funds, allowing donors to directly see where their funding is going toward within the department fund. This resulted in the organization’s new name: MEDAC.
- All ME students can participate in the MEDAC. You can nominate yourself as a candidate for the next committee. Nominations occur at the beginning of spring quarter. Elections are usually the seventh week of winter quarter. Even if you are not running for the committee you should be interested in hearing what the candidates have to say to be sure your concerns and priorities will be represented and vote accordingly. Nominations, candidate information and voting is conducted on the Canvas MEDAC Class.
- Committee members meet 3 or 4 times a quarter to confer with the department and college, make a spending plan, review and vote on proposals. All meetings are open to the public and student participation is encouraged. If you have an idea or opinion you are welcome to come to the next meeting and be heard.
2023-2024 MEDAC Committee
Student representatives
Chair: Scott Brown
Vice-Chair: Kyle Schumacher
Secretary: Ben Leistiko
PR: Ella Perry
Treasurer: Ryan Schackel
2021-2022 MEDAC Committee
Student Representatives
Chair: Cole Andrews
Vice-Chair: Alex Zuzick
Secretary: Ashley Che
Treasurer: Matthew Frost
2020-2021 MEDAC Committee
Student Representatives
Chair: Cole Andrews
Vice-Chair: Alex Zuzick
Secretary: Ashley Che
Public Relations: Jackson McFaul
Treasurer: Matthew Frost
2019-2020 MEDAC Committee
Student Representatives
Chair: Donovan Zusalim
Vice Chair: Cole Andrews
Secretary: Raymond Deng
Public Relations: Biren Rama
Treasurer: Kara Hewson
2018-2019 MEDAC Committee
Student Representatives
Chair: Jessalyn Bernick
Vice Chair: Chris Fedor
Secretary: Lynette Cox
Public Relations: Donovan Zusalim
Treasurer: KC Egger
2017-2018 MEDAC Committee
Student Representatives
Chair: Eric Zhong
Vice Chair: Jessalyn Bernick
Secretary: Nathan Harry
Public Relations: Kathryn Webb
Treasurer: Carl Stoye
2016-2017 MEDAC Committee
Student Representatives
Chair: Lucas Rybarczyk
Vice Chair: Eric Zhong
Secretary: Zachary Sharpell
Public Relations: Paul Swartz
Treasurer: Kathryn Webb
2015-2016 MEDAC Committee
Student Representatives
Chair: Gus Holz
Vice Chair: Lucas Rybarczyk
Secretary: Greg Orekov
Public Relations: Eric Dreischerf
Treasurer: Andrew Furmidge
2014-2015 MEDAC Committee
Student Representatives
Chair: Andrew Cunningham
Vice Chair: Gus Holz
Secretary: Zachary Sharpell
Public Relations: Eric Dreischerf
Treasurer: Lucas Rybarczyk
2013-2014 MEDAC Committee
Student Representatives
Chair: Allian Roman
Vice Chair: Andrew Cunningham
Secretary: Bodin Rojanachaichanin
Public Relations: Gus Holz
Treasurer: Ian Milliken
Dates Subject to Change
Week # |
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Spring |
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Begin Accepting/Advertising Proposals (Wednesday) | Introduce new members (Wednesday) Begin Accepting Proposals (Wednesday) |
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4 | Begin Accepting/Advertising Proposals (Wednesday) | All Proposals Due (Thursday) Allocation Meeting (Friday) Advertise Election/Open Candidate Nomination (Friday)
| All Proposals Due (Thursday) Allocation Meeting (Friday)
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6 | All Proposals Due (Thursday) Allocation Meeting (Friday) Advertise Elections (Friday) | Candidate Nominations Due (Friday)
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| Elections End (Friday) |
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8 |
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It is recommended that you first copy the MEDAC proposal form into a Word document to fill it out first and save it for later. The MEDAC proposal form cannot save proposals to edit later and once a proposal has been submitted it cannot be edited. Do not forget the Bill of Materials! Proposals missing the Bill of Materials cannot be approved.
General Guidelines (see bylaws for more details):
- A mechanical engineering student must be the one to submit the application.
- Funds may not be allocated to general consumables (paper, pencils, etc.) nor for travel.
- The proposing student or a designated surrogate must attend the in person MEDAC meeting for funding to be allocated.
Submit a New Proposal – Click here to submit a proposal for consideration (Link will be activated once we begin accepting proposals).
Search Proposals – Search through submitted proposals.
BOM Template – Download excel template.
Examples of a correctly filled out BOM:
The easiest and quickest way to use your MEDAC approved funds is to buy the proposal items using your own personal funds and to submit a specific MEDAC reimbursment form through the Mechanical Engineering office. Keep your original receipts in order to facilitate the reimbursement process. Ask the ME office in building 13, room 254 for a “MEDAC Reimbursment Form” and fill it out as instructed.
If you lack the funds to buy the items youself, you may submit a Purchase Request form through the Mechanical Engineering office. Ask the ME office if you need help with submitting one of these forms.
Keep in mind:
All funds must be spent as indicated on your proposal form.
All funds on the proposal must be spent and forms submitted to the ME office by a specified date. This date will be clearly announced each quarter before the proposal meeting and in a follow-up email to any student who was approved funding. Failure to submit reimbursement forms may cause issues when trying to access the allocated funds.
Please submit all forms and receipts via email to the ME office.
The current committee can be reached by email at: me-dac@calpoly.edu