Proposal for Discussion at WRC Annual Meeting
May 8, 2019
Dear University Colleagues,
As the representatives of the University Caucus to the WRC Governing Board, we are writing to inform you that, at the upcoming WRC University Caucus Meeting on May 14, we will be proposing two changes to how universities affiliated with the WRC are represented on the WRC’s Governing Board:
First, as you may be aware, there are currently five seats on the WRC Governing Board that are reserved for university representatives. These five seats are apportioned among the WRC’s affiliated universities according to categories defined by schools’ annual gross licensing revenues. The categories were established at the time of the WRC’s founding – in 2000 – based on affiliate universities’ annual gross licensing revenues at that time. Over the nearly two decades since then, however, licensing revenues, in the collegiate market as a whole and for many individual schools, have risen significantly, rendering the original definitions of these categories outdated.
We propose to update how these categories are defined to reflect the overall growth in university licensing revenues since 2000. This modification will not impact affiliate universities’ dues obligations to the WRC in any way; its only impact will be on how universities elect representatives to serve on the WRC Governing Board.
The current categories of affiliated universities and the modifications we are proposing are as follows:
| Category | Current Definition | Proposed New Definition |
| Class A | Annual gross licensing revenues of $1,000,000 or greater | Annual gross licensing revenues of $1,500,000 or greater |
| Class B | Annual gross licensing revenues between $100,000 and $999,999 | Annual gross licensing revenues between $350,000 and $1,499,999 |
| Class C | Annual gross licensing revenues of less than $100,000 (including schools with no licensing program) | Annual gross licensing revenues of less than $350,000 (including schools with no licensing program) |
Second, we propose that the University Caucus request that the WRC Governing Board add an additional seat representing schools with larger licensing revenues. At present, university representatives’ five seats on the WRC Governing Board are apportioned as follows:
- Two seats for representatives from Class A schools
- One seat for a representative of Class B schools
- One seat for a representative of Class C schools
- One seat for a representative selected from Class B schools and Class C schools combined.
Given the key role played by schools with greater licensing revenues, we propose that a sixth seat be added to the WRC Governing Board for a university representative selected from the Class A schools and Class B schools combined. (We would also propose that the WRC Governing Board adjust the voting power of the representatives of the WRC’s other constituencies in order to preserve parity on the Governing Board.)
We look forward to discussing these proposals with you further on May 14. If you are unable to attend the Annual Meeting, and/or would like to raise any questions or concerns ahead of the meeting, please contact any of us or WRC Executive Director Scott Nova.
Thank you for giving consideration to these proposals.
Sincerely,
Alixe Holcomb, Board Chair
Geoff Chatas
Scott Kelley
Kyle Muncy
Craig Westemeier