Voluntary Funding Program (VFP) Through Student Registration

Introduction

Since 1976, The Board of Regents has authorized use of the University’s class registration systems by Registered Student Organizations (RSOs) to collect voluntary contributions from students, provided they satisfy criteria listed below. The University bears no expenses related to collection and distribution of voluntary student contributions. The RSOs approved to use the current class registration system pay the costs of collection and distribution, at 5% of all monies received.

Criteria

To be approved for participation in the VFP:

  • For new petitions, or every four years for RSOs renewing participation in the program, RSOs must present evidence of broad-based student support of their program and activities by obtaining written petition signatures from a minimum 15% of enrolled UW-Seattle students. This percentage is based on an average taken of the total enrollment of the University’s student body from the previous academic year, and the target number will be provided to the petitioning RSO by the Student Activities Office.
  • Participating RSOs must be registered and in good standing with the Student Activities Office through the entire process. Good standing means:
    • Registered with the Student Activities Office each academic year.
    • No RSO Conduct sanctions involving loss of registered status.
    • No unpaid overdue invoices with University departments.
    • No missing annual reports.
    • New officers meet annually with the Associate Director for Student Activities, to review compliance with participation in the VFP.
  • Petitions must be collected on paper.
  • Petition drives may begin the first day of Autumn Quarter and conclude by the 10th Friday of Winter Quarter in the year the group seeks approval for placement or continuance with the VFP.
  • Completed petitions must be submitted to the Associate Director for Student Activities by 5 pm of the first day of Winter Quarter Finals Week, allowing time for signature validation by the Office of the Registrar.
  • Students soliciting signatures must be enrolled UW-Seattle students.
  • Petition forms must include:
    • Short description of the fee on each side of the form.
    • Highlight the quarterly collection of the fee.
    • Include fields for printing and signing name, and student ID. Phone numbers of any kind will not be collected. A sample form is available from the Student Activities Office.
  • Participating RSOs will coordinate with the Student Activities Office and the ASUW Judicial Committee to follow the ASUW’s Initiatives by Petition deadlines for inclusion of the petition question on the ASUW Elections ballot. The ballot question must be the same as the petition question.
  • If the ballot question is approved in the ASUW Election, the participating RSO must send a letter to the Office of the Vice President for Student Life requesting their organization be placed on the class registration system.

It is strongly recommended that any RSO wishing to participate in the VFP first meet with the Associate Director of Student Activities to review the process.

Retaining VFP Status

RSOs must satisfy the following requirements to remain on the VFP:

  • Every four years, beginning in the 2024-2025 academic year, participating RSOs must complete the petition process and obtain a favorable vote by a majority of students voting in a regularly-scheduled ASUW Election.
  • Maintain good standing with the Student Activities Office and register annually by October 31.
  • Submit an annual report of its activities to the Associate Director for Student Activities.
  • Upon completion of annual RSO Registration with the Student Activities Office, each participating RSO’s officers shall meet annually with the Associate Director for Student Activities, reviewing approval and compliance with participation in the VFP.

University Tasks for RSOs

  • Names and UW emails of students who contribute to an RSO will be provided quarterly to participating RSOs by the end of the fourth week of the following quarter. This deadline is dependent upon support from the Office of the Registrar, and may vary.
  • Checks will be picked up in the Student Activities Office by one of the officers of the participating RSO. SAO will request distribution checks by the end of the first week of each subsequent quarter contributions are collected.
  • All marketing and advocacy regarding the RSO’s VFP campaign is the responsibility of the participating RSO.

Summary of Important Dates

Verification of enrollment for previous academic year Last Friday of August
Signature collection may begin First day of Fall Quarter
Submission of signed petitions to SAO 5 pm Monday Finals Week of Winter Quarter
Petition Question approval for ASUW Elections Ballot By last BOD meeting of Winter Quarter
ASUW Elections 4th week of Spring Quarter
SAO notifies Registrar to continue, add or remove RSO from VFP Friday 5th week of Spring Quarter

Updated: September 10, 2024
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