Mission Statement
To discuss, adopt and carry out procedures necessary for the general welfare of Intercollegiate Athletics. To serve as a governing body over all student athletes and Intercollegiate Teams capable of implementing disciplinary actions to ensure that school policy and a general Athletic Department standards are upheld. To serve as a vehicle of communication among member organizations, the University and surrounding community. To serve in a public relations capacity to further Intercollegiate Athletics within the University and surrounding communities. To provide a forum for discussion of matters of concern for athletic teams.
What is a Student-Athlete Advisory Committee?
A student-athlete advisory committee (SAAC) is a committee made up of student-athlete representatives. The campus student-athlete advisory committee is an excellent vehicle to promote communication between the athletics administration and student-athletes. Most athletics programs have a wealth of information that needs to be routinely distributed to the student-athletes and, at the same time, most programs are interested in receiving more feedback from their student-athletes about department policies and structure.
What is the Purpose of SAAC?
It is important to assess exactly why a student-athlete advisory committee is needed or desired at your institution. Some of those purposes may be:
• Generating a student-athlete voice within the department.
• Soliciting student-athlete response to proposed NCAA legislation.
• Suggesting potential NCAA legislation.
• Organizing community service efforts.
• Creating a vehicle for student-athlete representation on campus-wide committees (i.e., Student Government).
Role of the Athletics Administration
The athletic director's visible support is key to the success of any student athlete committee. Such support shows the student-athletes, athletic personnel and campus-wide community that the philosophy of student-athlete involvement comes from the top and will generate support from all groups.
Ideas to increase department and campus-wide support for the committee include having the athletics director explain the need for a student-athlete committee at a coaches meeting, appointing an athletics administrator who has personal contact with student-athletes and a strong voice within the department as an advisor to the committee, and involving the faculty athletics representative in the work of the committee.
Committee Membership
The membership of the student-athlete advisory committee should be representative of the diversity of your student-athlete population (gender and racial diversity) and involve representatives from every sport. Each member serves as a liaison between the committee and his or her individual team.
Connection to NCAA and Conference Office Committees
In 1995, NCAA member colleges and universities adopted legislation mandating that each institution create a student-athlete advisory committee. In addition, many conferences now are creating their own committees. Each institution's student-athlete advisory committee has a communication link with the NCAA Student Athlete Advisory Committee, either directly or through a conference student-athlete advisory committee. If your campus or conference does not yet have a committee in place, you may wish to form one.
Executive Board
The NCAA recommends the creation of some type of executive board to oversee the operation of your student-athlete advisory committee. Traditional board member positions include chairperson, chair-elect, secretary/treasurer and chairpersons of any standing subcommittees. All of these positions should be held by student-athletes.
Constitution/Bylaws
The constitution of the student-athlete advisory committee is a document written by the executive board and approved by the representatives. The constitution is essential to outline the policies and operating procedures of the committee. It should outline the name and purpose of the committee, membership, leadership structure, standing committees, philosophy, advisors, impeachment process, veto powers, ratification and amendment procedures, voting and meeting requirements and various other bylaws. It should be noted that many institutions require that and organization have bylaws to be an officially recognized student committee.
William Paterson SAAC Constitution
I. Criteria for Membership
1. Two members from each team
    A. Members will be chosen by coach of team
2. Each member serves a one year term
    A. Membership can be renewed each year
3. New members should be part of the sophomore or junior classes.
    A. Can choose a freshman only if coach feels no one else is acceptable
4. Both members should attend every meeting
    A. In an event that one member can not attend, the other should make sure he/she will be there
    B. If a member misses two meetings, they will be dismissed from the council
    C. The coach will be notified of the dismissal and asked to choose another member for the council
II. Criteria for Executive Members
1. Executive Committee will consist of:
    A. Chairperson
    B. Vice-Chairperson
    C. Secretary
2. Each member serves a one year term
    A. Membership can be renewed each year
3. Responsibilities of Executive Committee
    A. Chairperson- oversee all meetings and keep council up to date on important NCAA information
    B. Vice-Chairperson- oversee all meetings that Chairperson cannot attend
    C. Secretary- record all information discussed at meetings. Type and distribute "minutes" of the meetings to all members within a week after meeting
III. Voting
1. Issues will be voted on by the council to make decisions
    A. NCAA Legislation
    B. William Paterson Athletics issues
2. There will be discussion of the issue by the council
3. A majority vote will be used to decide council's "stance" on the issue
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