Before 2006, competitive club rowing programs, which receive little or no funding from their university athletic departments, were able to compete at the IRA Championship.
During the 2006-2007 season, Rutgers University cut funding from its men's rowing program, reducing it to "club" status.
Part of Rutgers's justification for cutting rowing was that clubs could compete equally with funded programs at the IRA Championships.
To avoid other varsity program members from losing funding, the IRA excluded clubs from competing at its championship beginning in 2007.
ACRA is currently organized by a coach-elected board consisting of elected officers and representatives from each of the six regions.