Welcome!

With the success of the men's basketball blog (umesmensbasketball.blogspot.com), we have decided to begin a new blog dedicated to the UMES Student-Athlete Advisory Committee.

Throughout the summer we'll keep you updated on what student-athletes do in the "off-season." I say that in quotes because while they may not be competing, they are working hard in the weight room and practicing in their respective sports. Once the academic year begins, we'll have posts from the student-athletes and what they are doing in their SAAC meetings and events.

What is SAAC?
Almost every NCAA institution has a student-athlete advisory committee (SAAC) that 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.

History of NCAA Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (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 welfare. The initial national committee was comprised of student-athlete from membership division for the purpose of ensuring that the student-athlete voice was one that accounted for the myriad of educational and athletics experience of both female and male student-athlete at all NCAA member institutions. In August 1997, the NCAA federated along divisional lines. The federation caused SAAC to expand to three SAACs representing NCAA division 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.
The input of the respective division 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 Division II and III SAACs continue to speak to legislative issues on the NCAA convention floor.

Purpose of Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC)

· Promote communication between athletics administration and student-athletes.
· Disseminate information.
· Provide feedback and insight into athletics department issues.
· Generate a student-athlete voice within the campus athletics department formulation of policies.
· Build a sense of community within the athletics program involving all athletics team.
· 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.


We look forward to integrating this blog this summer and more-so in the upcoming 2010-11 academic season!