SAAC
WHAT IS A STUDENT-ATHLETE ADVISORY COMMITTEE (SAAC)?
A student-athlete advisory committee (SAAC) is a
committee made up of student-athletes assembled to provide insight
on the student-athlete experience. The SAAC also offers input on
the rules, regulations and polices that affect student-athletes'
lives on NCAA member institution campuses.
Presently, there are separate national SAACs for NCAA Divisions I, II and III. NCAA legislation mandates that all member institutions have SAACs on their respective campuses. Further, NCAA legislation requires that all member conferences have SAACs.
The information that follows will assist you in understanding how the network of SAACs, from individual campus committees to the conference and/or national committees, interact and support one another to shape intercollegiate athletics policy and enhance the student-athlete experience.
HISTORY OF THE NCAA STUDENT-ATHLETE ADVISORY
COMMITTEE
An Association-wide SAAC was adopted at the 1989 NCAA
Convention and was formed primarily to review and offer
student-athlete input on NCAA activities and proposed legislation
that affected student-athlete welfare.
The initial national committee was comprised of student-athletes
from all membership divisions for the purpose of ensuring that the
student-athlete voice was one that accounted for the myriad of
educational and athletics experiences of both female and male
student-athletes at all NCAA member institutions. In August 1997,
the NCAA federated along divisional lines. The federation caused
the SAAC to expand to three SAACs representing NCAA Divisions I, II
and III.
Each national divisional committee is comprised of both female and
male student-athletes charged with the responsibility of assisting
in the review of NCAA proposed legislation and representing the
voice of the student-athlete in the NCAA governance structure. This
is accomplished by providing student-athlete input on issues
related to student-athlete welfare that are division-specific.
(Federation has increased student-athlete participation in the
governance process of intercollegiate athletics by increasing the
number of SAAC members from the former Association-wide committee
of 28 student-athletes to a sum total of 79 members serving on the
national Divisions I, II, and III committees).
The input of the respective Divisions I, II and III SAACs
continues to be sought by a variety of constituencies within the
Association. Student-athlete committee members have the opportunity
to speak with their respective NCAA Management Councils, and the
Divisions II and III SAACs continue to speak to legislative issues
on the NCAA Convention floor.
National SAACs (Divisions I, II and III) at a glance:
- Generate a student-athlete voice within the NCAA structure.
- Solicit student-athlete response to proposed NCAA legislation.
- Recommend potential NCAA legislation.
- Review, react and comment to the governance structure on legislation, activities and subjects of interest.
- Actively participate in the administrative process of athletics programs and the NCAA.
- Promote a positive student-athlete image.
MISSION STATEMENT OF THE NATIONAL SAACs
"The mission of the National Collegiate Athletic
Association Student-Athlete Advisory Committee is to enhance the
total student-athlete experience by promoting opportunity,
protecting student-athlete welfare and fostering a positive
student-athlete image."
UNCP SAAC COORDINATOR
For more information about UNCP's chapter of the Student-Athlete
Advisory Committee, please contact:
Robin Langley
Head Tennis Coach/Senior Woman Administrator
(910) 521-6809
robin.langley@uncp.edu
