Rhode Island Rams Athletic Association

Priority Point Policy

Adopted August 5, 1997, revised August, 1998, June, 1999, January, 2000, October 2001, September 2004

The Rhode Island Rams Athletic Association hereby adopts this priority point policy. The intent of the policy is to raise restricted and unrestricted funds to assist the University's athletic department needs for the University's student-athletes. We adopt this policy to ensure that the greatest amount of funds are donated and used to serve the above purpose.

1. Each Rhode Island Rams Athletic Association member shall be assigned priority points based on their donations to recognized activities since the inception of the RIRAA's Arena Club program in 1992. In October 2001, the RIRAA adopted a three year pledge plan. The three year plan will require members to make a pledge for 3 consecutive years to RIRAA. Based on priority point totals, each Association member will be ranked on a priority point list for the selection of seating in the sale of season tickets at all ticketed Rhode Island Athletics home events (currently ticketed Rhode Island Athletics home events include football and men's and women's basketball). In accordance with the RIRAA membership benefits policy, a minimum donation of $150 to RIRAA must be paid by June 30th of each year in order to maintain your priority point standing. Priority point order is also used for other purposes as selected by the RIRAA and Rhode Island Athletics.

2. Priority points shall be awarded using the following formula:

  • Unrestricted contributions - Priority points shall be awarded at the equivalent value of two points for every hundred dollars of every gift or fulfilled pledge made to the RIRAA's Rams Fund (unrestricted use), to an unrestricted deferred giving fund, or to the University's Convocation Center Campaign on or before June 30th of each year (for example, a $150 gift equals 3.0 points). When deferred giving funds are established and maintained by one donor, that donor will also receive the equivalent value of two points for every hundred dollars of interest earnings made available for unrestricted use on or before June 30th of each year.

  • Restricted contributions - Priority points shall be awarded at the equivalent value of one point for every hundred dollars of every gift or fulfilled pledge made to an RIRAA restricted fund or restricted deferred giving fund on or before June 30th of each year (for example, a $150 gift equals 1.50 points). When deferred giving funds are established and maintained by one donor, that donor will also receive the equivalent value of one point for every hundred dollars of interest earnings made available for restricted use on or before June 30th of each year.

  • Each gift or fulfilled pledge must be received by the RIRAA by the end of the University's fiscal year(June 30th) to be eligible to earn priority points. Priority point totals will be tabulated at the end of the university's fiscal year and will be allocated to the priority points list for the succeeding athletic/fiscal year (for example, a $150 gift received by June 30th, 2001 will be applied to the priority point list for benefits to be received during the 2001-2002 athletic/fiscal year). In the case where a pledge is made but complete fulfillment is not received by the RIRAA by June 30th, the member shall only receive the priority point value for the dollars received.

  • Priority seat selection will take place in order of priority point totals from the member with the highest point total to the member with the lowest point total. Once the seat selection process by donors has taken place, all non-RIRAA members are eligible to select their seats based on rules determined by Rhode Island Athletics.

  • The priority point system acknowledges that gifts or pledges may include "gifts-in-kind" as defined by the Athletic Association, as well as matching gifts. All "gifts-in-kind" must be approved prior to allocating points to the donor by the Athletic Director and the Board of Directors of the RIRAA. ( See approved "gifts-in-kind" policy)

    3. Consecutive year points - Since it is the intent of the RIRAA to encourage donors to make contributions each year to support Rhode Island Athletics, the RIRAA awards one bonus point to donors for each year they have made donations in consecutive years dating back from the most recent fiscal year consistent with the priority point policy in existence at the time of the gift.

    4. Referral points - RIRAA members referring new RIRAA members will be credited with priority points equal to one-half (1/2) the value of the gift of the new member they referred according to the gift form submitted by the new member. These points are a one-time addition to be credited to the referring member when the gift is made or pledge fulfilled. This does not include phonathon gifts. A new member is one who is not a member of the RIRAA and has not been a member since 1992 when priority seating was initiated.

    5. Seat selection process: The RIRAA, in conjunction with the University's athletic department, shall conduct in-person seat selection for season ticket purchases at the Ryan Center. Seat selection priority shall be based on the total of priority points earned by a donor from 1992 to the present. The seat selection process will take place in the first year of the three year pledge plan. After the first year, your pledge must be maintained as originally pledged or increased and paid within the University's fiscal year due to maintain your seats. If your pledge is not maintained or you do not pay within the University's fiscal year due, you will forfeit the seats.

    RIRAA members once again have the opportunity to select their season ticket location for football and men's and women's basketball season tickets in person. All seats for the next three (2001-2004) seasons at the Ryan Center with the exception of those held by the President of the University, the Vice President of Advancement, the Director of Athletics, or allocated by NCAA or conference rules, are eligible for selection.

    Each member is assigned a date and time to select their season ticket location. Members wishing to select their season ticket location in person bring their priority order form to the Ryan Center at their assigned date and time and select their season ticket seat location. RIRAA members not wishing to select their season ticket location in person may mail or fax their priority season ticket application to the RIRAA so that it is received on or before the day of their scheduled seat selection. The RIRAA fax line is (401) 874-2016. The RIRAA e-mail address is riraa@etal.uri.edu. Members may also elect to have someone select seats for them in their absence. Members are asked to call the RIRAA at (401) 874-2389 on or before the day of their scheduled season ticket location selection to inform the RIRAA of who will be representing them.

    Donors are eligible to select seats based on the benefits package affiliated with their RIRAA level of giving (for example, Golden Ram level contributors are eligible to purchase up to 16 seats). Though donations to the University's Convocation Center Campaign are included in priority point totals, they are not included when establishing a donor's RIRAA level of giving. Donors to the University's Convocation Center Campaign must make a contribution to the RIRAA's Rams Fund or an RIRAA Affiliate Booster Group at established levels in order to receive membership benefits including the right to purchase tickets in priority order.

    6. Donors wishing to purchase additional seats beyond the limits imposed by their giving level may purchase remaining seats after all other donors have made their initial selections. This 2nd priority round will be made in order of priority and before any non-donor selects their seats. The RIRAA and the Rhode Island Athletics Ticket Office will select your seats for you based on your instructions and/or best available seating.

    7. During the three year seating plan, the RIRAA anticipates that a certain number of seats will become available each year(ie: forfeited seats, people moving, etc.). Annually RIRAA members will have the opportunity to change their seats, as they become available. Donors will be given the opportunity to select these seats on an annual basis based on their priority point level and their level of giving benefits package. A notification will be mailed to all RIRAA members announcing the availibility of tickets and asking those interested to contact the RIRAA office.

    8. All ties in priority order will be broken as follows: 1) Priority will be awarded in order of members' highest number of consecutive years contributing at the minimum giving level that year to receive priority status; 2) Priority will be awarded in order of the amount of members' most recent giving total (based on unrestricted equivalent), going back to the inception of the priority point system if ties occur; 3) Priority will be awarded in order of members' names drawn randomly by the Director of Athletics.

    9. These priority point rules are subject to change only by vote of the Rhode Island Rams Athletic Association. The athletic department of the University, by the signature of the Athletic Director, supports and adopts this policy.

    Henry Pedro
    President, Rhode Island Rams Athletic Association

    Thomas McElroy
    Director of Athletics

    Season Ticket Policy

    Adopted August 12, 1997

    The University of Rhode Island Department of Intercollegiate Athletics encourages unrestricted contributions to the RIRAA and, as such, adopts this season ticket policy as an addendum to the RIRAA Priority Point Policy.

    1. The Priority Point Policy of the RIRAA is the prevailing method used by Rhode Island Athletics in the selection of season ticket locations. The department will work in conjunction with the RIRAA in assisting its members in the purchase of season tickets in priority order, followed by any of its members who wish to purchase additional seats after those members with priority wishing to purchase additional seats beyond the limits imposed by their giving level have done so.

    2. The order of season ticket seat location selection following RIRAA seat selection will be as follows:

  • A. Individuals or businesses who purchased season tickets during the most recent season may purchase season tickets for the coming season. There is no maximum number of season tickets these individuals or businesses may purchase.

  • B. Individuals or businesses who have secured their intent to purchase season tickets for the upcoming season with a deposit stipulated by Rhode Island Athletics may purchase season tickets for the coming season in order of the date and time their deposit was received.

  • C. Remaining season tickets will be sold to the general public on a first-come, first-served basis.

    3. Rhode Island Athletics reserves all rights to its ticketed events and may revoke any and all opportunities to purchase tickets to said events without cause. The University of Rhode Island's Director of Athletics whose decision is final makes all decisions on matters of ticket sales priority outside these policies. To become a priority point-accumulating member of the Rhode Island Rams Athletic Association, contact the RIRAA at (401) 874-2389, write the RIRAA at Three Keaney Road, Suite One, Kingston, RI 02881 or e-mail the RIRAA at riraa@etal.uri.edu.

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