The deadline has been extended until the last week of classes for proposals and recommendations for a programming board at Penn State to allocate portions of student's per-semester activity fee.

Currently, the University Park Allocation Committee (UPAC), a student-run organization, is responsible for allotting money to student groups for programs and activities.

Tentative plans unveiled at an open student forum held March 30 show that a new fee allocation board would designate money to UPAC.

The board could begin programming by spring 2007.

In addition, the board would provide funding to a student programming association that would assist student organizations in planning events.

It would also give funding to programs deemed to be "large allocations," such as Homecoming or Movin' On.

Instead of UPAC's entirely student-run format, the new fee allocation board will be led by seven students and five faculty members.

Administrators from the Division of Student Affairs and students chosen by Vice President of Student Affairs Vicky Triponey have held closed meetings each week since Jan. 23 to formulate plans for the allocation board.

"There are a few more things that we want to make sure we can finalize perfectly before we submit the recommendations to [Triponey]," said Aaron Wright (junior-secondary education), who has been contributing to the planning effort.

UPAC Overall Chairman Keyur Shah echoed Wright, saying that "some aspects" of the board were still being discussed.

The weekly meetings to plan the new board have been split into two groups.

The "Student Fee Annual Allocation Process Work Group" has been charged with proposing "an annual allocation process for a portion of the student activity fee to provide stable and ongoing funding prior to the start of each academic year for programs and activities that are determined by the university to be an important part of student life and the out of the classroom experience," according to a letter Triponey sent to Senior Associate Director of Unions and Student Activities Judy Albin to ask her to serve as part of the group.

The group is co-chaired by Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs Philip Burlingame and Shaira Morales (senior-health policy and administration).

The other group, "Student Programming Board Work Group," has the responsibility of proposing "a campuswide and student-centered student activity/programming board," according to a letter Triponey sent to Off-Campus Student Union President Ryan Bennington to ask him to serve as part of the group.

That group is co-chaired by Director of Unions and Student Activities Stan Latta.

Wright said despite the extended deadline for the proposals, the board should still be recruiting members this fall so that it may begin programming next year.

"That's the game plan right now, Wright said.

"But anything is subject to change," he added.