Virginia State and Norfolk State will soon have to rely more heavily on fundraising and ticket sales under a new state law.
Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe signed HB 1987 on Sunday night. The bill limits the percentage athletic departments can rely on student fees to cover their budgets.
Football Championship Subdivision schools such as Norfolk State and James Madison can fund a maximum of 70 percent of their budgets with student fees, and both NSU and JMU may have to restructure their budgets to meet that standard. According to USA Today, Norfolk State funded 80 percent of its athletic budget and JMU 79 percent through student fees.
Norfolk State’s current athletic fee is set at $1,545. By comparison, Old Dominion’s fees are $1,429 and Virginia Tech’s is just $282.
Division II schools like Virginia State will cap out at 81 percent. VSU’s athletic fee is currently $911.