Minnesota State University - Mankato Athletics

What is SAAC?

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

Purpose and Mission of SAAC

The mission of the NCAA Student-Athlete Advisory Committee is to enhance the total student-athlete experience by promoting opportunity for all student-athletes; protecting student-athlete welfare; and fostering a positive student-athlete image.

Minnesota State University's Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) was implemented to ensure that student-athletes have a voice regarding their student-athlete experience. The SAAC organization at Minnesota State consists of at least two team appointed representative from each of MSU's intercollegiate teams. SAAC meets bi-weekly throughout the academic year to communicate and converse on various student-athlete welfare issues.  SAAC coordinates a number of events within the athletic department and in the community of Mankato to promote the importance of education, service and responsible decision making. 

Communication among campus, conference and national SAACs offers student-athletes the opportunity to shape the landscape of intercollegiate athletics. 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.

The primary purposes of SAAC include the following:

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

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 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 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.

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 Advisory 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.
 
2023-24 Minnesota State University SAAC Officers:
 

President	Tony Anger	Football
Vice President	Jade Jackson	Women's Soccer
Secretary/Treasurer	Anna Cihak	Women's Golf
Social Media Coordinator	Drake Hayward	Wrestling

  

To view the SAAC handbook, click HERE