Who is SAAC?
Bryant University's Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) is a committee made up of student-athletes assembled to provide insight on the student-athlete experience. Each varsity program will have one or more student-athletes represent their teams and all stduent-athletes at Bryant University on the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee. The SAAC will serve as a forum for discussions of issues of interest to student-athletes, as well as perform community service to enhance the educational experiences at Bryant. It is recommended that the committee meet at least once a month.
- 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.
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Promote a positive student-athlete image.
The Associate Athletic Director shall serve as advisor. Co-chairs (male and female) and an executive committee will be elected by the SAAC membership to lead the committee. Teams are not limited to the number of representatives which may attend meetings, however, each team will have only one vote. Teams are required to send a designated representative to monthly SAAC meetings. SAAC attendance and participation in community service initiatives will be reviewed by head coaches and the Director of Athletics.
Please contact the Senior Associate Athletic Director with any questions regarding SAAC:
Beth Wandyes, Senior Associate Athletic Director/SAAC Advisor
401-232-6277
bwandyes@bryant.edu
The information that follows will assist you in understanding how the network of SAACs - from individual campus committees to the conference and 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 athletic 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.
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."