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SAAC

 
2024-25 SAAC E-Board
President – Abril Riley (Soccer/Track & Field)
Vice President – MacKayla Reed (Soccer/Track & Field)
Community Engagement Chair – Olivia Wanner (Field Hockey)
Communication Secretary – Sydney Jeker (Field Hockey)
Social Media Secretary – Olivia Horninger (Field Hockey/Track & Field)
 
Advisor
Kate Cochran

What is SAAC?
The student-athlete advisory committee (SAAC) is a committee made up of student-athletes assembled to provide insight on their experience. The SAAC also offers input on the rules, regulations, and policies that affect student-athletes' lives on NCAA member institution campuses.

The purpose of the CSAC Student-Athlete Advisory Council (SAAC) is to strengthen the communication between the campus SAAC's and the national committees to better represent the views of all student-athletes. It is to serve in an advisory capacity to the conference athletic directors, administrators and staff, regarding policies, procedures and activities that affect the conferences' intercollegiate athletic teams both on the conference and national level.

The CSAC SAAC consists of two representatives from each member institution, who are selected by their campus SAAC's. They serve as liaisons between the campus committees and the conference office, as well as the Division III National SAAC.

History of SAAC
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 well-being. The initial national committee was comprised of student-athletes from a non-federated membership. Its purpose was to ensure that the student-athlete voice was one that accounted for the myriad of educational and athletics experiences of a diverse group of male and female student-athletes at all NCAA member institutions. In August 1997, the NCAA federated into three divisions. The federation caused the SAAC to expand to three committees representing NCAA Divisions I, II and III.

Each committee is comprised of a diverse group of male and female student-athletes charged with the responsibility of assisting in the review of NCAA proposed legislation and representing the voice of student-athletes in the NCAA governance structure. This is accomplished by providing student-athlete input on issues related to student-athlete well-being that are division-specific and association-wide. (The 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 total of 80 members serving on the national Division I, II and III committees). The input of the respective Division I, II and III SAAC's 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 and Presidents Councils, have representation on many association-wide committees, and continue to speak to legislative issues on the NCAA Convention Floor.

NCAA legislation mandates that each NCAA conference has a conference SAAC in order to strengthen the communication among the campus and national committees. Through increased communication and networking, the SAACs hope to better represent the views of all student-athletes

NCAA Mission Statement
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 well-being and fostering a positive student-athlete image.

Cedar Crest College SAAC
  • Promote communication between athletic administration and student-athletes.
  • Disseminate information.
  • Provide feedback and insight into athletics department issues.
  • Generate a student-athlete voice within the campus athletic department during its formulation of policies.
  • Build a sense of community within the athletic program involving all athletic teams.
  • Solicit student-athlete responses to proposed conference and NCAA legislation.
  • Organize community service efforts.
  • Create a vehicle for student-athlete representation on campus-wide committees (e.g., student government).
  • Promote a positive student-athlete image on campus.

Members of a campus SAAC have the opportunity to address issues affecting student-athletes at their institution or in their conference; furthermore, members have the opportunity to offer input on issues that may be national in scope. The campus committee is meant to serve as a local student-athlete voice in addressing issues of student-athlete well-being at its respective institutions. Campus committees can facilitate better communication among student-athletes from various athletics teams to address issues common to all. The campus SAAC may also serve as a conduit of communication among student-athletes, coaches and athletics administrators on issues to improve the student-athlete experience and promote growth and education through sports participation. Concerns can be voiced and solutions offered regarding any issue that may be relevant to NCAA student-athletes. Through the grass-roots efforts of the campus committees communicating with the conference SAAC's, and the conference SAAC's communicating with the national SAAC, student-athletes have the opportunity to change the face of intercollegiate athlete.

If you have any questions feel free to contact the advisor or member of the board.