The Messiah University Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) is comprised of at least two student-athletes from each sport, along with student representatives from athletic training. The purpose of the Messiah University SAAC organization is to enhance the total student-athlete experience by fostering a positive student-athlete image, within our teams, the Messiah University campus community and in our surrounding communities.
SAAC, which is mandated by the NCAA and the MAC Conference, encourages open communication and discussion between coaches, administration, and student-athletes. SAAC serves as the voice of the student-athlete on campus and provides valuable insight into how University and NCAA policies may affect them.
Supporting the principles and beliefs of the NCAA Division III, Messiah University and the athletic department are important guidelines of the Student Athletic Advisory Committee.
Team/Representatives Responsibilities
Team
- Each team provides two SAAC representatives who will attend monthly SAAC meetings.
- Each team will be assigned a Brother/Sister team for the year. These pairings support one another by attending competitions, providing goodie bags, creating posters for events, etc.
- Brother/Sister teams are encouraged to build community by completing service projects together and/or spending time together outside of competition.
Representatives
- Each member serves as a liaison between the committee and his or her individual team, therefore attendance and participation at monthly meetings is expected.
- Representative are expected to report back to their team on SAAC discussions.
- Each member will serve on at least one sub-committee within SAAC. These sub-committees focus on 1.) student-athlete wellness, 2.) leadership development, 3.) spiritual formation, and 4.) career preparation.
Student-Athlete Newsletter
Following the completion of the 2020 Fall semester, SAAC spearheaded the creation of a newsletter that would connect our Athletics community and enrich the student-athlete experience. These monthly newsletters highlight the four main areas of the student-athlete experience - student-athlete wellness, leadership development, spiritual formation, and career preparation.
December 2020
January 2021
February 2021
2023-2024 SAAC Executive Board
President – Jordan Lewicki (Women's Lacrosse)
VP/Secretary – Maggie Chinnadurai (Softball)
Communications Coordinator – Lauren Cotton (Women's Swimming)
MAC SAAC Representative – Beth Cummings (Women's Cross Country / Track & Field)
MAC SAAC Representative – Tyler McConnell (Men's Volleyball)
SAAC Advisor – Brooke Good (Assistant Athletics Director, Head Field Hockey Coach)
