The University of Massachusetts Dartmouth Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) is a student-led organization made up of a representative from each of UMass Dartmouth's varsity sports teams.
The purpose of the SAAC at UMass Dartmouth is:
- To serve as a representative body for University of Massachusetts Dartmouth student-athletes.
- To provide effective communication between student-athletes, the administration, coaches and student body.
- To actively encourage involvement from the student-athletes in campus, community and charity projects.
- To design, implement and promote programs that will encourage academic achievement, image and social responsibility of student-athletes.Â
- To represent UMass Dartmouth regarding all matters related to athletics and its respective Conferences and affiliations
UMass Dartmouth SAAC members meet on a monthly basis throughout the academic year. The SAAC meetings provide an opportunity for members to discuss questions and concerns raised by other student-athletes, discuss policies and procedures which impact the Athletic Dept., plan community-based outreach programs and address matters of self-governance.
Under the constitution adopted by the members at the beginning of the 2007-08 academic year, the UMass Dartmouth SAAC has four officers elected by the committee. Those positions are President, Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer. These officers, along with advisors from the Athletic Dept. staff, are responsible for the operation of the SAAC.
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SAAC for the 2023-24 Academic Year
Advisor: Erik Noack, Ice Hockey Head Coach and Justin Turco, Women's Volleyball Head Coach
Officers
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 Team Representatives
Baseball
Jordan Paradis
Aidan O'Donnell
Kevin Moszkowicz
Men's Basketball
Nic Boyd
Darius Peterson
Women's Basketball
Mel DeMeo
Kaylin Zalewski
Shelby Companion
Men's Cross Country
Jake Paris
Colin Ozturk
Women's Cross Country
Tori Schweitzer
Bee Greenberg
Field Hockey
Maggie McCafferty
Lillian Bento
Hannah Trombly
Brooke Lydon
Football
Jonathan Brightman
Men's Ice Hockey
Pat Aalto
Michael Mania
Zach Tarantino
Connor Little
Women's Lacrosse
Natalia Agrelo
Jennifer Lins
Mia Dibiasi
Men's Soccer
Kyle Rhines
Women's Soccer
Veronica Bock
Lauren Widmer
Grace Conti
Softball
Olivia Ali
Hailey Lyons
Kinu Takasugi
Julia Driscoll
Jill Walsh
Women's Swimming
Savannah Platt
Women's Tennis
Maddie Gonzalez
Saige Croce
Men's Track & Field
Ollie Akinwunmi
Women's Track & Field
Alexa Lemieux
Kate Hockenbury
Women's Volleyball
Sabrina Bordone
Emily Pogorelec
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Student-Athlete Advisory Committees (SAACs)Â
A 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.
Presently, there are separate national SAACs for NCAA Divisions I, II and III. NCAA legislation mandates that all member institutions have SAACs on their respective campuses. Further, NCAA legislation requires that all member conferences have SAACs.
The information that follows will assist you in understanding how the network of SAACs, from individual campus committees to the conference and/or national committees, interact and support one another to shape intercollegiate athletics policy and enhance the student-athlete experience.
History of the NCAA Student-Athlete Advisory CommitteeÂ
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. (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 79 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:Â
• Generate a student-athlete voice within the NCAA structure.
• Solicit student-athlete response to proposed NCAA legislation.
• Recommend 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.