The 2011-12 Wichita State athletic season is underway as the Shockers begin a path toward a 19th Missouri Valley Conference All-Sports Trophy, a success rate above any of our Missouri Valley counterparts. The Shocker Athletic Scholarship Organization (SASO) has been integral to that success since its beginning, and now we have developed a plan to reward our donors on a larger scale.
In an effort to provide our contributors with the best possible value for their donations, we have examined our Priority Point System over the past year while placing full concentration on the importance of your support of Shocker Athletics and this great University. Since 2004, the Shocker Athletic Department has used a Priority Point System that has served an important purpose. This structure offered opportunities for individuals to be rewarded for gifts to SASO, purchase of season tickets for men’s basketball and gifts to the Roundhouse Renaissance Campaign to reconstruct Charles Koch Arena and the Henry Levitt Athletic Complex. In an effort to identify more opportunities to engage our supporters, we are proud to announce a new system that will go into effect February 1, 2012.
Taking into consideration our current structure, we sought to identify a configuration that would include not only the giving in the previous system, but take into consideration giving history to other important efforts in both the Athletic Department and the University. In the past, the Priority Point System was used mainly for purposes revolving around men’s basketball. The revised system will reward all of our season ticket holders in all season-ticketed sports. We carefully researched current systems among the NCAA membership and considered guidance from your peers on the SASO Board.
The new Priority Point System provides an equitable means of allocating benefits that exist in limited quantities. Points are earned by supporting Wichita State Athletics and the University through several avenues. This system will be used by the Athletic Department to assign benefits among donors based on the enclosed parameters. The new system acknowledges gifts and ticket history since fiscal year 2004, when the original point system was implemented.
The goal is to offer our faithful supporters fair access to high-demand/low-supply benefits such as seating/parking upgrades, arena re-seating, away game travel opportunities and postseason tournament tickets for all Shocker sports. The system rewards donors for their ongoing commitment to Shocker Athletics by giving individuals with the most cumulative points first access to desirable items in short supply.
We will first use the new Priority Point System to determine your seating location for the 2012 Missouri Valley Conference Men’s Basketball Tournament. Even though that is the starting point for the new system, other future uses for the point system will include all MVC and NCAA Championships.
Thank you for your continued support of Shocker Athletics. If you have questions regarding the new system, please do not hesitate to contact the SASO Development Office at 978-7276.
Respectfully,
Eric L. Sexton
Director of Athletics
Priority Point System Details
Men’s Basketball Ticket History
3 points:
For each year of current consecutive season tickets purchased for men’s basketball, which must include the present year, in the name on the account, since 1972.
OR
2 points:
For each year of season tickets purchased for men’s basketball, in the name on the account, since 1972.
(Whichever approach has greater point total)
One-time, 10 point bonus for ticket holders who purchased men’s basketball season tickets prior to 1972.
Other Sports Ticket History
2 points:
Per account for each year of season tickets purchased for Baseball, Softball, Volleyball and Women’s Basketball in the name of the account – beginning FY’04.
(Maximum of 2 points per sport, per year, max of 8 points per year)
All Season Ticket Bonus
2 points:
Per account, per year, if season tickets are purchased in every ticketed sport – beginning FY’04.
Annual SASO Giving
2 points:
For each $100 donated for current annual gift to SASO.
Total SASO Giving
1 point:
For each $100 donated to SASO since 1989. Current Annual Gift not included.
RRC Giving
1 point:
For each $100 donated to the Roundhouse Renaissance Campaign.
Each 1 Reach 1 New SASO Referral
2 points:
Per new SASO member referral beginning FY’11.
(Referral must be provided to WSU-ICAA prior to donation. Minimum Shocker Club membership required.)
Other Athletic Department Giving (Restricted Giving)
1 point:
Per $250 donated to WSU-ICAA – beginning FY’04. (i.e. Booster Clubs, Champions Club, All-American Club, Sky Box, Golf Tournaments, Athletic Fundraisers)
Note: ONLY the Non-Benefit Portion will be included for point calculation.
Other Athletic Department Giving (Unrestricted Giving)
1 point:
Per $100 donated to WSU-ICAA – beginning FY’04 (i.e. Coaches Club, Capital Campaign)
Note: ONLY the Non-Benefit Portion will be included for point calculation.
University Giving
1 point:
Per $5,000 donated to Wichita State University – beginning FY’04 (i.e. School of Business, Foundation, etc.)
Note: Only the Non-Benefit Portion will be included for point calculation.
Athletic Endowed Scholarship
One-time, 10 point bonus for establishing an Endowed Gift to WSU-ICAA based on University requirements.
Athletic Planned Gift
One-time, 10 point bonus for documenting WSU-ICAA in your estate plans.
Lifetime WSU Alumni Associate Member(s)
One-time, 5 point bonus for lifetime membership to WSU Alumni Association. If both husband/wife lifetime members account will receive one-time, 10 point bonus.
WSU Letter Winner(s)
One-time, 10 point bonus for being a Shocker Letter Winner. If both husband/wife WSU letter winner account will receive one-time, 20 point bonus.