MCLA Student Athlete Advisory Committee
The mission of the MCLA Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (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, while maintaining the tenants of the rules and regulations of the Massachusetts State College Athletic Conference (MASCAC) and Division III philosophy.
2011-2012 Meetings
September 18 Minutes
October 2 Minutes
NCAA Division III SAAC web site
2011-2012 MCLA SAAC Executive Board
- President- Hayley Gundersen
- Vice President- Jen Wehner
- Secretary- Olivia McMullen
- Treasurer- Karrah Chapman
2010-2011 MCLA SAAC Executive Board
- Co-President- John Ripepi (Baseball)
- Co-President- Kris McLaughlin (Basketball)
- Vice President- Chelsey Burke (Basketball)
- Secretary- Samantha Miller (Soccer)
- Treasurer- Danielle Parenteau (Soccer)
- Advisor - Dot Houston (Assistant Athletics Director))
2010-2011 Meeting Minutes:
September 19- Minutes
October 17- Minutes
November 7- Minutes
December 5- Minutes
December 12- Minutes
January 23- Minutes
March 6- Minutes
March 27- Minutes
April 10- Minutes
2009-2010 Meeting Minutes:
September 17- minutes
October 18- minutes
November 1- minutes
December 6- Minutes
January 24- minutes
February 21- Minutes
March 7- minutes
NCAA NATIONAL LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE
The purpose of the NCAA Leadership Conference is to prepare a
diverse group of student-athletes for an active leadership role in
their campuses and in their communities. The students who are
invited to attend the conference will engage in a variety of
developmental activities designed to enhance their communication,
decision-making, and problem-solving skills. They will be taught
strategies to promote better communication among student-athletes,
coaches, faculty, administrators, and college communities.
Additionally, participants have the opportunity to build a long
lasting network of future leaders and share concerns and ideas that
are critical to today’s student-athletes.
2010 Dan Saunders (Soccer)/Kris McLaughlin (Basketball)
2009 Katie Bodnar (Tennis)/Marvin Thompson (Basketball)
2008 Ed Cano (Golf) / Amey Blackburn (Softball)
2007 Jason Mlodzianowski (Soccer)
2006 Brandon Pender (Basketball)
2005 Ciaran Cullen (Soccer)
2004 Betsy Willis (Basketball)
2003 Jess Sinopoli (Softball)
2002 Shaun Richard (Baseball)
2001 Jay Vandura (Hockey) / Amanda Beckwith (Volleyball)
2000 David Warren (Soccer) / Tinea Phillips (Softball)
1999 Larry Shank (Hockey)
1998 Tracey Pierce (Basketball)
NCAA REGIONAL CONFERENCE:
2007 Boston,
MA
- Andrew Gaines - baseball
- Joanna Bodnar - tennis
- Kristin Parzych - coach
2006 Jersey City, NJ
- Simon Zelazo - men's golf
- Christine Barna - women's soccer
- David Bond - coach
2003 Boston, MA
- Jessica Sinopoli - softball
- Tonda Gunn - women's basketball
- Scott Nichols - presenter
- Dot Houston - administrator
Challenging Athletes Minds for Personal
Success
What is a
Student-Athlete Advisory Committee? (SAAC)
A student-athlete advisory committee (SAAC) is a committee made up
of student-athletes assembled to provide insight on the
student-athlete experience and to offer input on the rules,
regulations and polices that affect student-athletes' lives on NCAA
member institution campuses.
Presently, there are separate national SAACs for NCAA Divisions I,
II and III member institutions. NCAA legislation mandates that all
member institutions have SAACs on their respective campuses, and
many NCAA conferences also have established SAACs.
The information that follows will assist you in understanding how
the network of SAACs, from individual campus committees to the
national committees, interact and support one another to shape
intercollegiate athletics policy.
History of the
NCAA Student-Athlete Advisory Committee
An Association-wide SAAC was adopted by legislation approved 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, or split
among divisions, caused the SAAC to federate as well. Presently,
there are 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 formulation of NCAA legislation. 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 78 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.
National SAACs
(Divisions I, II and III) at a glance:
"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."
* Generate a student-athlete voice within the NCAA structure.
* Solicit student-athlete response to proposed NCAA
legislation.
* Suggest 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.
* Promote a positive student-athlete image.
Division
III:
There are 24 members on the Division III SAAC, 16 of which are
chosen from each of the four Division III regions across the
nation, and eight student-athletes serve on the committee as
at-large selections.
Two student-athletes from the committee are voting members on the
Division III Management Council. In Division III, legislation is
proposed to the Management Council from Division III committees,
and the Council then has the option of forwarding the proposed
legislation to the Division III Presidents Council for approval. If
the legislation is approved by the Presidents Council, it is voted
on annually at the NCAA Convention in January by each Division III
member institution to determine if it will become new
legislation.
Conference
SAACs:
Many NCAA conferences have created conference SAACs in order to
strengthen the communication connection between the campus and
national committees. Through increased communication and
networking, the SAACs hope to better represent the views of all
student-athletes.
Campus
SAACs:
Though the focus of campus SAACs is intended to be more parochial
in nature, communication between campus and national SAACs offers
student-athletes on individual member institution campuses the
opportunity to shape the landscape of intercollegiate
athletics.
Functions of
campus 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 teams.
* 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.
As a member of a campus SAAC, you have the opportunity to address
issues affecting student-athletes at your institution; furthermore,
you have the opportunity to offer input on issues which may be
national in scope.
The campus committee is meant to serve as a local student-athlete
voice in addressing issues of student-athlete welfare at your
respective institution. 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.
Through the grass-roots efforts of campus SAACs, student-athletes
have the opportunity to change the face of intercollegiate
athletics.
