Embry-Riddle SAAC Mission Statement
The mission of Embry-Riddle’s Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) is to enhance the total student-athlete experience by promoting opportunity, fostering open communication between student-athletes and athletic administrators, protecting student-athlete welfare, promoting a positive student-athlete image, encouraging school spirit, improving the day-to-day life of all student-athletes through activities and social events, and serving the greater good of the campus and community through service.
Purpose
The purpose of SAAC at Embry-Riddle is to promote efficient communication among student-athletes, Athletics staff, coaches and University faculty & staff in an effort to address athletic, academic and personal well-being issues. It functions to provide feedback and insight into the student-athlete experience and to offer input on the rules, regulations and policies that affect student-athletes’ lives. In addition, SAAC representatives are responsible for creating and enhancing unity among student-athletes, the student-body, Embry-Riddle faculty & staff and individuals in the community. Further, it facilitates the involvement of student-athletes in campus and community service projects, while also promoting the NCAA Division II Life in the Balance program.
Membership
Membership in SAAC will be composed of one representative from each intercollegiate sport and co-ed cheerleading. Each member is responsible to be the liaison between their respective team and the SAAC. The head coach will be responsible for choosing their team’s SAAC representative on an annual basis.
Qualifications & Expectations
Requirements for members of SAAC include the following:
- Maintain academic eligibility and be in good standing with the University;
- Attend all meetings unless a circumstance arises that can’t be changed;
- Take an active leadership role in the meetings;
- Communicate with respective team members, listening to and noting issues that affect student-athlete welfare;
- Represent the teams’ views and concerns and communicate those at meetings;
- Report on committee meetings to the team and coaching staff, informing them of upcoming events and issues discussed;
- Be a positive advocate of the Athletics program and University, representing your teammates in a first-class manner;
- Promote the mission of the Athletics program and be an active participant in community and campus projects chosen by SAAC.
Executive Committee
The Executive Committee will consist of the President, Vice-President, Secretary/Treasurer, Athletic Staff liaison, and Senior Woman Administrator. The Executive Committee is responsible for establishing committees at the beginning of the year or as-needed based on departmental and University priorities. No single sport or gender will occupy all positions on the Executive Committee.
President
- Calls and presides over all meetings;
- Regularly communicates with the Executive Committee and all SAAC members;
- Serves as the official representative of the Executive Committee.
Vice-President
- Assumes all responsibility in the absence of the President;
- Creates reports on SAAC activities, goals and accomplishments, including community engagement service projects;
- Maintains committee member list, including phone numbers and emails.
Secretary/Treasurer
- Keeps all meeting minutes, creates agendas, takes and tracks attendance;
- Communicates all relevant information to SAAC members;
- Sends SAAC minutes to all Athletics coaches and staff, and other University personnel if necessary;
- Prepares and maintains an accurate record of all fund-raising activities and the disbursal of those funds as directed by the Executive Committee.
Executive Committee Elections
Elections are held each April for the next school year. Head coaches will appoint their team’s representative in April each year for the upcoming school year. Those representatives will attend the April meeting to elect Executive Committee members for the next school year. All SAAC Executive Committee officers will hold their positions for one academic year and are eligible to be re-elected for a second term.
Meetings & Attendance
The SAAC will meet once a month. Special meetings may be called as the need arises. The Executive Committee may also meet in addition to regularly scheduled monthly SAAC meetings. The President will be responsible for calling Executive Committee meetings. A quorum for the Executive Committee is a simple majority (3 members).
It is expected that SAAC members will attend all meetings unless excused by the President. One excused absence per semester will be allowed, in which case the individual will send a team representative in their place. If a member misses more than one meeting in a semester, the Executive Committee has the right to determine their continued standing on the SAAC and may be asked to step down from their leadership role on the SAAC.
Guidelines for Meetings
- The President will call the meeting to order and the Secretary will record the attendance;
- The President will summarize events from the previous meeting and report on any progress made if needed;
- Each team representative will provide a team report, including athletic competition accomplishments, community engagement activities conducted, concerns raised by teammates and the coaching staff, etc.
- The President will address new agenda items and dates for upcoming events;
- The group will discuss and vote on any new matters;
- Closing comments from the President and/or other Executive Committee members;
- Adjournment.
A quorum for the SAAC is a simple majority (11 members).
All meetings will follow Roberts Rules of Order.
Amendments
SAAC representatives may introduce constitutional amendments at meetings. The members will consider the amendment and vote on its status at the next regularly scheduled meeting. A 75% vote of the membership is required for approval. Each team must place a vote and the change will become effective immediately pending approval of the Athletics senior administration staff.
NCAA Division II SAAC Mission Statement
The mission of the NCAA Division II SAAC 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.
NCAA Division II SAAC Guiding Principles
Division II SAAC will be guided by the following principles: ethics, integrity, fairness, and a respect for diversity and inclusion, which shall include attention to gender, race, ethnicity, and sport. Division II SAAC’s purpose is meant to reflect the voice of the student-athlete and should adhere to the following principle in all of its processes and decision-making: the well-being of student-athletes is at the center of what SAAC does:
- Any process must be flexible and timely, and include effective communication.
- Decisions must be fair, reasonable, and consider the potential impact on the student-athlete.
