About SAAC
The Hunter College Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) is a board made up of student-athletes who are committed to generating a voice for the student-athlete within the NCAA. One of the main purposes for SAAC is to make other student-athletes aware of proposed NCAA legislation and to recommend legislation to the NCAA regarding certain situations. SAAC is dedicated to promoting a positive student-athlete image within the athletic programs and creating the executive leaders of tomorrow.
Mission Statement
The purpose of the committee is to establish a communication network between the student-athletes and the athletic administration, to engage in community service programs to enhance the public relations of our athletic program and to give back to various groups within the local community.
Constitution
The Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) is intended to serve the following purposes
1. Act as a liaison between the administration and student-athletes, thereby providing student-athletes with a voice in the Athletic Department
decision-making process.
2. Alert student-athletes to issues concerning them.
3. Encourage and facilitate the involvement of student-athletes in campus and community issues and build a sense of community within the
athletics program.
4. Provide a forum to discuss and generate positions on NCAA legislation.
5. Promote a positive student-athlete image on campus.
6. Build a sense of community within the athletics program involving all athletic teams.
Meetings
1. General SAAC meetings, which are open to any Hunter student-athlete, occur every other Wednesday that classes are in session.
2. The Executive Committee shall meet every other Wednesday between general body meetings.
3. The general agenda will include:
a. An update from each team.
b. A summary of the previous general meeting.
c. Business from the Athletic Department.
d. New business, and an open discussion.
4. Resolution of any arising issue, shall be passed by a simple majority of those representatives in attendance.
5. Amendments to the SAAC Constitution require two-thirds vote of quorum.
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History of the 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 included student-athletes from all membership divisions for the purpose of ensuring that the student-athlete voice was one that accounted for the myriad 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.
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