"The mission of the NCAA Division II 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."

The Division II SAAC will be guided by the following principles: ethics, integrity, fairness and respect for diversity, which shall include attention to gender, race, ethnicity and sport.

Valdosta State University Student-Athlete
Advisory Committee

The Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) 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.

Membership is comprised of at least one representative from each athletic team as well as the cheer and dance squads. The VSU Student-Athlete Advisory Committee was created to facilitate greater interaction between the athletics administration and student-athletes. Below are pictures from SAAC's most recent event, an ice cream social.

The purpose of the committee is as follows:

1. To provide a communication link between student-athletes and athletic administration.
2. To provide positive relationships between student-athletes, the staff and faculty of the University and the VSU athletic department administration.
3. To give the student-athletes a voice on programs designed to serve their needs.
4. To actively encourage more involvement of the student-athlete in campus and community projects.
5. To encourage communication, unity and support between and amongst teams.
6. To design and implement programs which will encourage academic achievement, health promotion, social responsibility and general awareness.

Some community projects Valdosta State's SAAC has been involved in are Habitat for Humanity's "Blazer Build," canned food drives, Hurricane Katrina Relief, community clean-up projects, elementary school reading programs, and a conference-wide Make-A-Wish program.

Members have an opportunity for input in the NCAA proposed legislation changes as well as department policies and procedures. Leadership opportunities are available for members of the committee through local and national training sessions.