ECC STUDENT ATHLETE ADVISORY COMMITTEE

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 SAAC on their respective campuses. Further, NCAA legislation requires that all member conferences have SAAC.

The information that follows will assist you in understanding the network of SAAC, 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 SAAC 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 SAAC continue to speak to legislative issues on the NCAA Convention floor.

National SAAC 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 SAAC

"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."

How to Join

Every school in our conference has a SAAC and each team usually nominates 2 people per sport to represent on the committee. There is no limit to how many can be on the committee. The more student-athletes involved, the better our athletic college experience will be.

ECC SAAC Chair - National Representative

Teelah Grimes - Dowling College - Women's Basketball

Fundraiser Ideas

* Make-A-Wish Foundation: www.wish.org
* School Bracelets
* A Dollar per Athlete
* Half Time Contests/Drawings
* Bake Sale
* Car Wash
* Teddy Bear Throw--At games sell small teddy bears for $3 each. At halftime have all those that purchased a bear to throw them into the middle of the field towards hula-hoops. Each person will have been assigned a number to their bear. Those who land in the hula-hoop will receive a prize.
* Balloon Release--For outdoor sports, sell balloons for $1 and then during halftime release the balloons into the sky.

For more fundraising ideas visit http://www.ncaa.org/d2saac

Community Service

* Habitat for Humanity: www.habitat.org
* Big Brother Big Sister
* Reading to Elementary Schools
* Kid's Fun Night/Parent's Night Out--Allow parents in the community to have a night to themselves while student-athletes spend the night participating in activities with the their children

Student-Athlete Social Event Ideas

* Ice Cream Social
* Barbeque
* Game Day Shirts--At the beginning of the year each sport can pick one game that is considered their big game that they need the most support on and have all the student-athletes come out and support; wearing their game day shirts to allow everyone to know it's an important game.
* Teacher Appreciation--Athletes give a ribbon to their favorite professor and bring them to one of the athletic events to be recognized.

NCAA Division II SAAC Website

NCAA Division II SAAC site: http://www1.ncaa.org/membership/membership_svcs/saac/d2/index.html