Main Page

About Us

Services

Prospective Student-Athletes

Life Skills & Diversity & Inclusion Programming

Tutors

Student-Athlete Handbook

Calendar of Events

Buckinghams & Awards

Community Service Request Form

Academic Services FAQ's

MY UWbadgers.com

SAAC

Mission

Organization and Governance

Meeting Information

Minutes

Team Representatives

Student Athlete of the Month

Student Athlete of the Year

Accomplishments

SAAC History

CHAMPS/Life Skills

SAAC

Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) is a leadership group that provides an outlet for student athletes to discuss issues specific to dealing with the rigors of student-athlete life. This committee serves as a liaison between the student-athlete population, coaches and administration, the Big Ten conference and the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). SAAC offers input on rules, regulations and policies that directly affect the life of the student-athlete at the University of Wisconsin. SAAC also provides opportunities to meet with peers and develop a support system for each other.

SAAC is made up of two voting representatives from each of the 23 athletic teams here at UW-Madison. Any student-athlete is welcome to attend SAAC meetings and get involved, even if he/she is not a voting representative.

SAAC elects three officers each year: a president, vice president, and a secretary (all 3 positions are held for one year). Additionally, the president of SAESO also holds an officer position on SAAC in order to keep the two groups connected. Of the officers, two student-athletes represent SAAC on the UW Athletic Board, attend board meetings and inform the rest of the student-athletes in SAAC of issues that potentially affect them. SAAC representatives can bring to the board issues voiced at SAAC monthly meetings and serve as the liaison between student-athletes and the board.

2011-2012 Leadership Board:
President: Lauren Cochlin, women's soccer
Vice President: Chris Meyer, men's golf
Secretary: Carrie Edmunds, women's track & field
Advertising Chair: Jordan Helgren, women's track & field
SAESO Representative: Kyle Jefferson, men's track & field
Staff Advisor: Bridget Woodruff

Back to top

Mission

The mission of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) is to provide a link of communication between UW-Madison student-athletes and athletic department administration and to provide a support system for student-athletes to discuss various issues specific to the rigors of student-athlete life. Additionally, it is our mission to fairly represent University of Wisconsin student-athletes in advising our institution, the Big Ten, and NCAA on issues affecting student-athletes.

Back to top

Organization and Governance

The University of Wisconsin Student-Athlete Advisory Committee is a representative group made up of two student-athletes from each sport who provide the direction for SAAC by addressing the needs of fellow student-athletes. They also vote on various Athletic Board sub-committees that deal with issues directly affecting student-athletes.

SAAC focuses their events, activities and education on three different areas: community service, student-athlete welfare and social. SAAC participants elect to work on committees that set goals to accomplish events, activities and education in these three areas.

Back to top

Meeting Information

All meetings are held at 7pm in Heritage Hall at Camp Randall Stadium. Meeting dates for the 2010-2011 academic year are:

September 13, 2011
October 4, 2011
November 1, 2011
December 6, 2011
February 7, 2012
March 6, 2012
April 10, 2012
May 1, 2012

Minutes

• September 13, 2011
• October 4, 2011
• November 1, 2011
• December 6, 2011
• February 7, 2012
• March 6, 2012
• April 10, 2012
• May 1, 2012

Back to top

Team Representatives:

Back to top

Student-Athlete of the Month & Student-Athlete of the Year

"In recognition by the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee of excellence on and off the field of competition."

This award was developed by the SAAC in the spring of 1997 in order to recognize the exemplary portrayal of the Badger student-athlete. Nominations will come from advisors, coaches, and the student-athlete body which will be submitted to the Office of Academic Services and presented at the designated SAAC meeting. At the meeting, two representatives from each team are eligible to vote. The nominees, one from each sport designated for the specific month, with the popular vote shall claim the award. The following guidelines have been established to determine potential recipients for the award:

• Be academically eligible and in good academic standing
• Have obtained an outstanding achievement or recognition in academics
• Make a significant contribution to their respective team
• Be actively engaged in community service

At the end of the academic year all of the Student-Athlete of the Month award winners become the nominees for the Student-Athlete of the Year Award. All student-athletes will have an opportunity to vote for the Male and Female Student-Athlete of the Month. The winners are announced at the annual Buckinghams.

The monthly breakdown is as follows:

Back to top

Accomplishments

NCAA Student-Athlete Advisory Committee

• Proposed approved legislation that permits student-athletes to serve as full members (with voting rights) on specified NCAA Division I committees and subcommittees.
• NCAA Division I Management Council approved a Division I SAAC request to direct the NCAA enforcement services staff to focus more resources on voluntary workouts and possible violations of voluntary workout legislation.
• Proposed approved legislation that permits an institution to provide a maximum of three complimentary admissions to a student-athlete for an institution's game or contest during which the student-athlete is being honored but not participating provided such complimentary admissions are used by the student-athletes' parents, legal guardians and/or spouse.
• Division I Management Council approved a request from the Division I SAAC to expand the uses of the Student-Athlete Special Assistance Fund.
• Helped to write by-law proposals that allowed Division I student-athletes to accept Olympic prize money.
• Helped to assure that student-athletes on full scholarship can work during the school year.
• Helped to define recruiting practices that are less intrusive on prospective student-athletes.
• Stopped legislation that would have increased the time demands on student-athletes.

UW Student-Athlete Advisory Committee

• Secured free admission for student-athletes to all home contests (excluding football, men's hockey, and men's basketball).
• Secured University housing for all incoming freshman student-athletes from the 2002-2003 school year on.

Back to top

SAAC History

Back to top