diff --git a/app/__init__.py b/app/__init__.py
index 653dddfbc406fdccbc2b74ff7537ec428693cbf6..2e6b0c920b702f08398c3f1832752c68dc5a8893 100644
--- a/app/__init__.py
+++ b/app/__init__.py
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@ import rc_util
 def create_app(config_name):
     app = Flask(__name__, static_folder='static') # initialization of the flask app
     cors = CORS(app, resources={r"/*": {"origins": vars.cors_allowed_origins}})
+    valid_eppa = vars.valid_eppa
     Bootstrap(app) # allowing app to use bootstrap
 
     def get_authorized_user():
@@ -40,8 +41,6 @@ def create_app(config_name):
     @app.route('/', methods=['GET', 'POST']) # initial route to display the reg page
     def index():
 
-        valid_eppa = ["faculty", "staff", "student", "affiliate"]
-
         if 'uid' not in session:
             session['uid']=str(uuid.uuid4())