The Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) is a student-athlete leadership group comprised of members from each of HCU’s athletic teams. SAAC’s purpose is:
- To represent the diverse interests of student athletes to the Houston Christian University’s Athletics Administration;
- To promote community among all HCU student-athletes;
- To foster commitment to service; and
- To represent the HCU Athletics Program locally and at the conference and national levels.
Members of SAAC develop their leadership and citizenship skills by promoting student athlete welfare issues and actively participating in departmental educational programs and special events.
The committee with be guided by the following principles: Ethics, Integrity, Fairness, and Respect for Diversity.
SAAC Projects
SAAC holds events throughout the year to bring student-athletes together for philanthropy and fellowship. Past events have included volunteering at Greater Houston Special Olympics – Bowling and with the Delete Blood Cancer – Earl Young project.
Division I SAAC Mission Statement
The mission of the NCAA Division I Student-Athlete Advisory Committee is to enhance the total student-athlete experience by promoting opportunity, volunteering in the community, protecting student-athlete well-being, and fostering a positive student-athlete image.
NCAA Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC)
How Can HCU Student-Athletes Get Involved with the SAAC?
HCU student-athletes are encouraged to ask their coach about involvement with the SAAC or contact HCU SAAC Advisor, Charlotte Hartshorn (chartshorn@hbu.edu).
Purpose and Function of a SAAC
Q: What is a Student-Athlete Advisory Committee?
A: A student-athlete advisory committee 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.
Q: What are the functions of the Campus SAAC?
A: The campus committee is meant to serve as a local student-athlete voice in addressing issues of student-athlete welfare at their respective institution. In addition, members have the opportunity to offer input on issues that may be national in scope.
SAAC seeks to:
- Promote communication between athletics administration and student-athletes;
- Provide feedback into athletics department issues;
- Build a sense of community within the athletics program involving all teams;
- Organize community service efforts;
- Create a vehicle for student-athlete representation on campus-wide committees; and
- Promote a positive student-athlete image on campus.
HCU Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) Governing Principles
Article I - Mission Statement:
The Houston Christian University Student-Athlete Advisory Committee’s purpose is to provide a vehicle that promotes communication between student-athletes and the athletics administration, between each athletic team in the department and within the university campus student body and faculty. It will seek to improve the environment of the student-athletes, portraying a positive student-athlete image among students, faculty and the community.
Article II - Composition:
The SAAC committee members will be chosen by the coach and the existing member of the team’s representative on the committee. The committee feels it is important, but not imperative that members of the committee be represented by student-athletes from each classification, from sophomore and above, trying to avoid placing freshman on the committee unless it is unavoidable. Each team will consist of one representative per team with men and women’s track receiving two members each, due to the representation of track and cross country.
The committee will be made up of 20 members across all sports.
Election of a chairperson and a co-chairperson.
Two community service coordinators for fall and spring projects
Committee secretary will also be appointed and voted on by the members.
Elections will be conducted at the end of each spring semester for the President, Vice-President, secretary, treasurer, and two conference representatives for the upcoming academic year.
Article III - Meetings:
Meetings will take place regularly, at the minimum monthly and more if need be. A schedule of meeting times will be decided and voted on at the first meeting of each semester.
Article IV - Absentee Policy:
Individual members of the SAAC committee cannot miss more than two meetings during the course of the year, unless excused for academic or athletic reasons. Those who miss more than the allotted times will risk being replaced on the committee.
Article V - Projects:
The committee feels it is important to provide community service projects on an individual team as well as one per semester as a whole athletic department. Off season sports will work together in fall and the spring sports will work together to do two department projects an academic year.
Article VI - Role:
The SAAC is an advisory committee in nature and may recommend policy to the Athletic Administration when appropriate. In order to make formal recommendations a motion must be made, seconded and approved by at least a 3/4 majority of those members present and there must be at least a majority present of the membership for the vote to take place.
If you want to get involved with SAAC or want more information regarding the program, please contact Charlotte Hartshorn at
chartshorn@HCU.edu.
