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Student-Athelte Advisory Committee (SAAC) Mission Statement:
The Troy University Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) advocates for an inclusive athletic environment that values the welfare of each student-athlete. We collaborate with all segments of the university, more specifically with the Troy University Athletic Department, to provide the voice for Troy University student-athletes. The mission of SAAC is to prepare student-athletes for lifelong learning and global citizenship through the promotion of academic, athletic, professional, and personal growth.

What is a Student-Athlete Advisory Committee? (SAAC):
• SAAC is an organization consisting of two student-athletes from each sport as well as some at-large members
• SAAC participates in community service, social functions, philanthropy projects, fundraisers, and discussions of legislation
• SAAC promotes a positive student-athlete image on campus
• Create a vehicle for student-athlete representation on campus-wide committees (e.g. student government)

Troy University SAAC Bylaws:

Article I:
This organization shall be known as the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee.

Article II:
All members must be NCAA, Sunbelt Conference and institutionally eligible both academically and athletically and remain in good academic standing. Additionally, all members must be a participating member of their respective sport. There will be at least two student-athlete from each team: baseball, men's basketball, women's basketball, cheerleading, men's cross country, women's cross country, football, men’s golf, women’s golf, soccer, softball, men’s tennis, women’s tennis, men's track, women's track, and volleyball.

To be a SAAC representative, a student-athlete must be nominated by their coach, teammates and/or athletic administrator and commit to serve on the SAAC for at least one full academic year.

Article III:
Section 1 - The executive cabinet of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee shall consist of president, vice-president, event management/civic engagement, secretary, and public relations.

More specifically, the executive cabinet duties are as follows:

President: Responsible for leading all SAAC meetings. Requires monthly, if not biweekly, meetings with the SAAC advisor to discuss meeting agenda and other pertinent issues. This officer will be the spokesperson of SAAC and address the student-athletes, coaches and administration when needed. This officer is required to attend monthly full athletic staff meetings.

Vice-President: This officer will be in charge of designating events, ensuring that attendance was documented, and other duties as assigned. Also, the vice-president will assume presidential duties for SAAC meetings when the president cannot attend.

Event Management: Responsible for generating task lists for both on and off campus events. Creates fundraising opportunities.

Civic Engagement: Responsible for developing and implementing innovative ways to involve the student-athlete body with service projects.

Secretary: Responsible for actively taking minutes at each SAAC meeting and disseminating them via email to all SAAC representatives and the SAAC advisor. Minutes should include meeting highlights, upcoming events, and other important information. Also, the secretary is responsible for contacting SAAC representatives in the event a phone chain is needed. This officer will also collect contact information and distribute a contact sheet to all SAAC representatives and the SAAC advisor. The contact sheet should include name, sport, and address during the academic year, cell phone number, and email address.

Public Relations: Responsible for maintaining close communications with Troy Athletics media relations to help promote the Troy SAAC. This officer is also responsible for all social media outlets that include but are not limited to: Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and the athletic department newsletter.

Section II-
The Election Process:
A majority vote by current SAAC members will be used for the election process of the executive cabinet in March of the academic school year.

All members of SAAC, including the advisor, have the power to nominate SAAC representatives for the executive cabinet. Only SAAC members who have served at least one full semester are eligible for an officer nomination.

Each perspective candidate should present a one to two minute speech as to why they are interested in the desired position.

Elections will be conducted in the following manner and moderated by the current SAAC president: (1) Each SAAC member will be given five slips of paper. (2) Each SAAC member will cast his or her vote on the slip of paper. (3) The current executive board (excluding those who are rerunning) and SAAC advisor will step out of the room and count the votes. (4) The current president will announce the winner and continue steps 1-3 for each officer position.

The SAAC advisor has no voting power, except in the case of a tie; the advisor will cast the tie- breaking vote.

The SAAC will hold a special election if the previously elected officer is unable to carry out his/her duties. In the event the current president cannot carry out his/her duties, the vice- president will be promoted to president and hold an election for the vice president position. The process and requirements will be the same as the March election.

Section III
Membership Requirements
Representatives are required to attend all scheduled SAAC meetings. If an absence is necessary, the President and Vice President must be notified and a replacement team representative shall attend. Two unexcused absences may result in a request for a new team representative.

Meetings will be scheduled bi-monthly, with date, time and location selected at the Summer Retreat. This information will be relayed to SAAC representatives through the SAAC minutes and calendar.

Article IV
Meeting Protocol
Punctuality is vital to the success of SAAC.

Regularly scheduled Student-Athlete Advisory Committee meetings will remain "open" meetings, unless otherwise stated with appropriate notice and reason. Student-athletes, coaches, administrators, staff, and members of the university community are welcome to attend "open" meetings.

The executive cabinet (the elected officers of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee) has the power to rule on behalf of the advisory committee when necessary.

The meetings between the president and advisor will remain "closed" meetings. The president may open the meeting by invitation only.

Article V:
Any and all fundraising activities will follow athletic fundraising procedures and must be granted written approval by the institution's compliance officer.
No expenses shall be made without approval of the SAAC advisor and SAAC executive cabinet.

Article VI:
All amendments must be passed by two-thirds vote of the advisory committee.

Article VII:
A member of the athletic administration, preferably the Lifeskills coordinator, will be the advisor to the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee.