Skip To Main Content

New Jersey Institute of Technology Athletics

Scoreboard

New Jersey Institute of Technology Highlanders
Sponsored by:

Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) Guidelines

SAAC Executive Board | Constitution and Guidelines | Highlander Cup Points | It's On Us Video | Community Service

Home

NEW JERSEY INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY

 

Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC)

Constitution and Guidelines

 


NJIT SAAC was formed for the purpose of:
  • Providing a communication link between student-athletes and the athletic administration
  • Encouraging communication and unity between and among teams
  • Promoting and encouraging SUPPORT for the New Jersey Institute of Technology and Athletic Department throughout the campus, and the local community
  • Providing a forum for student-athletes to voice opinions on NCAA, ASUN Conference, and NJIT Athletic Department policies and procedures
 
Responsibilities

Each representative is expected:
  • To attend ALL general body meetings and activities.  A convenient regular meeting time will be set by the Executive Board at the start of each semester.  If the team representative(s) miss three (3) or more meetings, they will be asked to step down from the Committee and return any Committee items they received.  Their replacement will be chosen by the Advisor(s).Exceptions will be made for excused absences, such as mandatory team events or emergencies.These excused absences must be approved by both the Executive Board and the Advisor(s).  
  • To represent the team’s views at meetings.  This means that the team representative(s) must talk to his/her teammates about issues that will be discussed at the general body meetings.  Coaches will allow time before or after practices for team meetings if  they are given advance notice (at least one day) that a meeting is needed.
  • To report to the team and coach on the general body meetings and to distribute the minutes of the meeting.  The team representative(s) will provide proof of this reporting through either having the advisors CC’d on the email distributed to the team, a screenshot of a message sent in a group chat, or other appropriate means.  
  • To organize team members to help with any special projects.

Activities
The Committee’s function is to provide a forum for discussions of anything that concerns NJIT student-athletes.  
  • The Assistant Athletic Director will brief the Committee on such topics as policy changes, proposed new policies and the budget.  
  • Special projects may be proposed at organized Committee meetings.
  • The Committee will hold at least one (1) SAAC-specific event each year.    
  • The Committee is expected to develop, plan, and carry out community service projects annually, as well as carry out ASUN Conference Initiatives.  
 
Membership
  • student-athlete (scholarship or non-scholarship, freshman through senior) is eligible for SAAC membership.  However, diversity is encouraged.  When possible, the chosen representatives should not both be seniors, so that there is always the potential for a returning representative.  All interested student-athletes are encouraged to get involved.  But each should carefully consider his/her academic and athletic responsibilities before making the additional commitment to membership on the Committee.
  • Each team shall have two (2) representatives for the Committee, not including Executive Board members.  The coach will nominate one representative, and the Advisor(s) will nominate the second.If the coach is unable or unwilling to nominate a representative, the Advisor(s) will nominate both representatives.  In the event of an unintended vacancy, the Advisor(s) will select the replacement.
  • New members will begin their terms with the first meeting of the Fall semester.  All terms are for the duration of the academic year.New representatives will be chosen at the start of the next academic year.
 
Executive Board
At the last meeting of each Spring semester, the Committee will assign (by election or consensus) certain responsibilities to Committee members.  They are as follows:
  • : presides over monthly meetings, assists in setting and reviewing agendas for monthly meetings, oversees all events and projects, functions as spokesperson for SAAC, and acts as liaison between the athletic administration and SAAC members.
  • Vice President: presides over monthly meetings in the absence of the President, helps President with his/her responsibilities, organizes trivia for monthly meetings, assists in setting and reviewing agendas for monthly meetings, functions as spokesperson for SAAC, and acts as liaison between the administration and SAAC members.
  • : records attendance for all monthly meetings, manages Highlander Points, assists in setting and reviewing agendas for monthly meetings, functions as spokesperson for SAAC, and acts as liaison between the athletic administration and SAAC members.  
  • : records minutes for all monthly meetings, distributes all meeting minutes to the Committee, communicates with administration about booking areas and physical items required by the Committee, assists in setting and reviewing agendas for monthly meetings, functions as spokesperson for SAAC, and acts as liaison between the athletic administration and SAAC members.  
  • Social Media Coordinators (2): publish and create posts for all Committee social media platforms, promote the Committee and student-athletes on all Committee social media platforms, correspond with social media advisors about posting SAAC content on other NJIT social media, function as spokespersons for SAAC, and act as liaisons between the athletic administration and SAAC members.  
  • Community Service Coordinators (2): organize volunteers for all community service initiatives, help oversee all community service initiatives, function as spokespersons for SAAC, and act as liaisons between the athletic administration and SAAC members.
  • ASUN Representatives (2): represent NJIT SAAC on monthly video calls and biannual in-person ASUN SAAC meetings
    • These are chosen by the Advisor(s) based on ASUN SAAC Best Practices, investment in NJIT SAAC, and leadership qualities.
    • If possible, these representatives should be of different year, gender and sport.  
    • These representatives typically consist of the President and another Executive Board member.     
 
All officers shall be elected to a one-year term of office to commence upon the conclusion of the last meeting of the Spring Semester


Advisors
  • A minimum of one (1) Advisor should be appointed by the NJIT Athletic Department
  • At least one (1) Advisor will attend all SAAC meetings if possible.  If no Advisor(s) can attend, the Executive Board will update them on the happenings of the meeting.  The Faculty Athletic Representative (FAR) is also welcome at Committee meetings.
  • Acting as a consultant, the Advisor(s) shall provide guidance in areas of University policy and NCAA rules.
  • The Assistant Athletic Director will bring any SAAC concerns to the attention of the Director of Athletics.  
 
Agenda
  • The agenda will be created by the President, in conjunction with the rest of the Executive Board.
  • The agenda will be sent to all Committee members and the Advisor(s) by the Secretary prior to all monthly meetings.
  • A survey will be sent with the agenda to be filled out by the Committee members after all monthly meetings.
 
Meetings
  • The Committee will meet once a month throughout the semesters, at an agreed upon time and place.
  • The Committee will meet a minimum of two (2) times a semester.
  • The first meeting shall occur no later than the second week of the semester.
  • The Executive Board shall hold meetings at least twice a month, at an agreed upon time and place.
 
Voting
  • All SAAC members are eligible to vote.
  • Each team is entitled to one vote at any meeting.
  • The voting will be led by an Executive Board Member.
  • The majority is defined as more than fifty (50) percent of the total votes possible at a meetin
 
  • Annual Report
    • At the end of each academic year, an annual report will be put together by the Executive Board, in conjunction with the Advisor(s).
    • This report should include, but is not limited to: concerns, Committee actions, yearly activities, and special honors or recognition received by teams or student-athletes.
    • The Annual Report will be distributed to the athletics administration, athletics council, Board of Trustees, coaches, faculty, the ASUN Conference SAAC and the NCAA SAAC.