Division III Philosophy

Colleges and universities in Division III place highest priority on the overall quality of the educational experience and on the successful completion of all students' academic programs.  They seek to establish and maintain an environment in which a student-athlete's athletics activities are conducted as an integral part of the student-athlete's educational experience.  They also seek to establish and maintain an environment that values cultural diversity and gender equity among their student-athletes and athletics staff. 

To achieve this end, Division III institutions:

What is a Student-Athlete Advisory Committee? (SAAC)

A Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) is made up of student-athletes assembled to provide insight into the student-athlete experience on our respective campuses as well as within the Little East Conference. The SAAC also offers input into the rules, regulations and polices that affect student-athletes on their own campuses as well as at the Conference and National levels.

At the National level, there are separate National Student Athlete Advisory Committees for NCAA Divisions I, II and III. NCAA legislation mandates that all member institutions have a SAAC on their respective campuses. Further, NCAA legislation requires that all member conferences have a functioning Student Athlete Advisory Committee as well. 

Mission Statement

The mission of the Little East Conference Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) is to enhance the total student-athlete experience by promoting opportunity for all student-athletes; protecting student-athlete welfare; fostering a positive student-athlete image; providing a forum for student-athletes throughout the LEC and NCAA, as well as, promoting a spirit of camaraderie by modeling positive sportsmanship while maintaining the tenants of the Division III philosophy. 

LEC SAAC Guiding Principles

The Little East Conference SAAC will strive to develop a collective voice within the guise of the following principles: ethics, athletic integrity, fairness and a respect for sport and the tenets of diversity, which, shall include race, culture, sexual orientation, ethnicity, language, gender and disability.

Composition of Committee

The Little East Conference Student Athlete Advisory Committee shall consist of 18 members, including two representatives from each full-time member institution and the Chair and Vice-Chair.  Each member institution may also elect an alternate conference SAAC representative who may sit in for a regular delegate at conference meetings if necessary.  Sport specific member institutions will not have representation on the Little East Conference SAAC.  Member institutions should make every effort to elect one male and one female representative to the Conference SAAC, one of whom should be an ethnic minority if possible, but ultimately it is up to the Director of Athletics on each respective campus who will represent them on the LEC SAAC.

Meeting and Attendance Policy

The Little East Conference SAAC shall meet two times during the academic year - once in the fall, and once in the spring. Meeting date, time, and location will be selected by the members in conjunction with the Conference Commissioner. Members of the Little East Conference SAAC committee are expected to attend all SAAC meetings.  Delegates who are unable to attend a meeting are required to notify the committee chair in writing at least one week prior to the meeting.  One absence per year will be excused.  Any member who misses two consecutive SAAC meetings per year without being excused may be removed from their seat by a majority vote of the rest of the committee which will result in a recommendation to the Athletics Director from that school that he/she replace that representative who has failed to perform the duties of his/her position. Ultimately, it is the decision of each Director of Athletics how they will choose representatives to the Little East Conference SAAC Committee and whether they will be replaced.  A member school may send an alternate to take the place of any Little East Conference SAAC delegate who is excused from an official meeting.  The alternate may vote on all official business as the regular delegate would.

While on Little East Conference business, members are required to attend all SAAC functions.  Punctuality, active participation and respect for others are expected from every committee member.

Failure to adhere in good faith to the aforementioned principles will result in notification to the Athletic Director of the member institution, and, by consensus of committee members, could ultimately lead to removal from the committee.

SAAC Meeting Procedures

The following procedures will apply to all SAAC meetings:

a.  The Little East Conference SAAC Chair will work closely with the Little East Conference SAAC Advisor and Conference Commissioner to develop a working agenda prior to each meeting

b.  Committee members will be asked by the Chair to forward their input on agenda items in a timely manner

c.  Each member institution will have one vote in proceedings

e.  Each motion requires a simple majority to pass provided there is a quorum of 5 member institutions present at the time of the vote

f.  The Committee will keep formal minutes of all of its proceedings and make them available to all member institutions. 

Chair and Vice-Chair

The Little East Conference SAAC will elect a Chair and Vice-Chair to lead the committee. These officers must be in good academic standing at their respective universities and should be from different institutions and of different academic classes for continuity.  Elections of officers will take place at the spring meeting.  New officers will take office immediately and will serve a one-year term.  The Chair and Vice-Chair will be eligible to run for reelection at the end of their one-year term if in good standing on the committee.  All eligible members of the Little East Conference SAAC may be considered nominees for the position of Chair or Vice-Chair unless they decline the nomination.  There is no limit to the number of terms the Chair or Vice-Chair may serve as long as they continue to get reelected by the membership.  Elections of officers will be by one vote per school (not per individual.)

Duties of the Chair shall include:

The Chair will not vote in normal business proceedings, unless there is a tie in the vote, at which time the Chair casts his or her own personal vote as the tie-breaking vote.

• Work with the Conference Commissioner and Little East Conference SAAC Advisor to prepare the agenda for meetings and distribute to the membership in advance
• Preside over meetings
• Call for a vote when needed
• Serve as spokesperson for Little East Conference SAAC to the member institutions
• Work closely with the National SAAC representative to ensure the conference is in tune with national issues
• Appoint someone to keep, compile and distribute the minutes of each meeting

Duties of the Vice Chair shall include:

The Vice Chair will vote with his/her school in normal business proceedings.

• Preside over meetings in the absence of the Chair

• Assist in the development of the agenda and bringing issues to the forefront
• Oversee sub-committees as appropriate
• Serve as the liaison to the Little East Conference Director of Communications in getting Little East Conference SAAC information on the Little East Conference Web site in consultation with the Little East Conference SAAC Advisor and only after approval by the Commissioner.

Removal Proceedings

If it is deemed by the members of the Little East Conference SAAC that either the Chair or Vice Chair is not fully executing the responsibilities of their office, the committee may initiate removal proceedings which include in this order:

            1.  Notifying the Conference Commissioner as to their intentions for initiating removal     proceedings

            2. Notifying the Director of Athletics of the member institution that officer represents

            3.  Removal of either officer from their position will require a 2/3 vote

Term of Office

There is no limit to the number of years/terms a student athlete may serve on the committee to include up to one year after completion of their intercollegiate athletics career.

National SAAC

The Little East Conference SAAC and Directors of Athletics shall have input into the selection of its member to serve on the National Student Athlete Advisory Committee.  The Conference Commissioner shall have the final say in the selection of the Little East Conference representative to the National SAAC.

Responsibilities and Expectations of LEC SAAC Members

• Fully participate in all meetings and discussions
• Create a student voice in NCAA and Little East Conference issues
• Put forth vital agenda items in advance and bring critical issues to the forefront of meetings
• To mirror the Division III Philosophy for Athletics, making athletics a good option for all students and keeping student-athletes motivated
• Represent conference schools in a positive manner on the field and in the classroom
• Commitment to make a difference
• Help foster a positive image of student athletes and the Little East Conference
• Listen to your constituents on campus and your peers in the Conference SAAC group
• Keep an open mind
• Promote athletic integrity
• Encourage others to get involved
• Participate in community service both on your own campus and as a Conference SAAC group

Communication Network

It is critical that Little East Conference SAAC members stay in contact with their fellow committee members, Director of Athletics, Conference Commissioner, and Little East Conference SAAC Advisor throughout the year.  It is vital that members share important information on their campus, with other member campuses, and with the Little East Conference Student Athlete Advisory Committee.  SAAC members should seek to gain a better overall understanding of the issues affecting intercollegiate athletics and Little East Conference athletics in particular.  It is the responsibility of the Little East Conference SAAC members to become informed and educated about matters facing student athletes and to share this information with their campus SAAC and with the rest of the Little East Conference SAAC.  It is critical that the Little East Conference SAAC work closely with the Little East Conference Director of Communications to develop and maintain its own Web page as part of the Little East Conference Web site.

By-Laws

It is the responsibility of the Little East Conference SAAC committee to review and update and adopt these by-laws and operating codes annually.  Amendments to these by-laws will require a 2/3 vote.

General Statement

As a Little East Conference SAAC member, our actions reflect upon the good name and reputation of the Little East Conference and the NCAA.  Therefore, the following policies have been developed to clarify the conference's expectations while on official business:

Travel Policy

When traveling to and from SAAC meetings, representatives should conduct themselves in a professional manner.  The same standard exists while attending SAAC meetings, and while involved in Conference SAAC-related functions as a part of the conference committee.  During free time, Little East Conference SAAC representatives should behave in a manner consistent with the high ethical, moral and legal principles for which the Little East Conference and the NCAA are known.  As conference committee members, we not only represent the Little East Conference, but our own educational institutions as well.   Any additional travel requirements, constraints, liabilities for each member will be dictated and covered by the travel policy of their respective institution. 

Alcohol Policy

In accordance with the by-laws of the Little East Conference, all student-related conference events, including LEC SAAC meetings/socials, will be alcohol free.  This policy is in effect from the time the student leaves their respective campus or point of origin until they return to the same.

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