Centennial Conference Student-Athlete Advisory Committee Bylaws

Article I – Name 
The Name of this organization shall be the Centennial Conference Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC).

Article II – Mission Statement
Purpose
The purpose of the Centennial Conference SAAC is to elevate the voice of student-athletes by acting as a vital link between athletes, coaches, and administrators. This committee advocates for student-athlete perspectives on conference and NCAA legislation, helping to shape policies that impact the academic and athletic collegiate experience. Centennial SAAC also promotes leadership development, champions inclusion, leads community engagement efforts, and fosters representation at the campus, conference, and national levels, contributing to a holistic student-athlete experience. 

Mission Statement

• To recognize that athletics help to develop a well-rounded student, not only by providing discipline and time management skills, but also by allowing the athlete to set and achieve individual and team goals. Our athletic participation enhances our collegiate experience.
• To facilitate open communication between the athletic and academic communities to discuss issues regarding the aforementioned goals.
• To have an active role in each decision-making process involving our well-being as student-athletes.

Function
The Centennial Conference SAAC serves as the liaison between Centennial Conference student-athletes and the Administrative Delegates, acting as the "voice" to address concerns and discuss issues impacting student-athlete welfare. The committee reviews conference activities, legislation, and topics referred by Conference committees or Delegates, providing feedback and forwarding recommendations to the conference governance structure, including Athletic Directors and the Presidents Council. The primary focus remains on matters affecting the well-being and overall experience of conference student-athletes.

Article III – Membership of the conference SAAC
Composition
Each full member institution shall appoint at least two (2) varsity sport representatives to the Centennial Conference Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC). Representation should include one (1) student-athlete from a men's sport and one (1) student-athlete from a women's sport. Single-gender institutions should appoint two (2) representatives from different varsity sports. At least one (1) representative from each institution should serve on the executive board of their institution's SAAC. Additionally, representatives should be in their sophomore, junior, or senior year at the time of appointment.

Any Centennial Conference student-athlete serving on the NCAA SAAC will automatically be a member of the conference SAAC and will not count toward their institution's representative allotment.

Institutions are encouraged to select representatives who reflect a wide array of diversity, promoting an inclusive and comprehensive experience of all student-athletes. Conference SAAC members should be designated by the institution and reported to the Conference office no later than the Monday before the Centennial Conference Fall SAAC Meeting.

Administrative Delegate Liaison
The Administrative Delegate Liaison for the conference SAAC will attend all in-person and virtual conference SAAC meetings. The Liaison will serve as a communication link between the Presidents' Council, Administrative Delegates, and the SAAC, conveying their perspectives and supporting the committee's efforts to improve the Conference. 

The Liaison will present SAAC's minutes at the Administrative Delegates meeting, ensuring the committee's initiatives and feedback are effectively communicated.

Meetings
The Centennial Conference SAAC will convene twice annually, once in the fall and once in the spring. The Conference Office will determine the locations, times, and dates of these meetings. Additionally, the Conference Office will work with the Executive Committee to coordinate service activities and programming events for the conference SAAC to participate in prior to each meeting. Each member institution is required to send a minimum of two representatives to each meeting. The Conference Office and Executive Committee reserve the right to schedule additional meetings as deemed necessary.

Each full member institution shall appoint two (2) varsity sport main representatives to attend the Centennial Conference SAAC meetings, including one (1) from a men's sport and one (1) from a women's sport. Single-gender institutions should appoint two (2) representatives from different sports. At least one representative should serve on their institution's SAAC executive board, and be a sophomore, junior, or senior.

Institutions can have one additional student-athlete to observe conference SAAC meetings and are encouraged to select representatives from underclassmen. 
Any Centennial Conference student-athlete serving on the NCAA SAAC will automatically be a member of the conference SAAC and will not count toward their institution's representative allotment.

Institutions are encouraged to select representatives who reflect a wide array of diversity, promoting an inclusive and comprehensive experience for all student-athletes. 

Voting Procedures
Each institution's delegation has one vote at the SAAC meeting. To endorse or oppose a motion, a two-thirds affirmative vote of the institutions present is required.  An abstention is a neutral vote, then requiring a two-thirds affirmative vote of the remaining institutions.

Article IV – Executive Committee
Officers
The chair and vice-chair of the SAAC shall be elected by the committee. The chair must be a member of the junior or senior class at their institution and must be in good academic standing.  The vice-chair must be either a sophomore, junior, or senior at their institution and be in good academic standing. To be eligible to hold an office, the representative must have served on their campus SAAC for one year. 

If the Chair is unable to complete their term, the Vice-Chair will assume the Chair position, and a new election will be held to fill the Vice-Chair role.

Duties of the Officers
The Chair will lead the SAAC meetings and will be invited, along with the Vice-Chair, to attend the Administrative Delegates meeting at the NCAA Convention. While serving as the "voice without a vote" at the Delegates meeting, the Chair will represent SAAC's perspective. The Chair will also be responsible for preparing the SAAC meeting agenda in collaboration with the conference office. The Vice-Chair will assist the Chair in facilitating the conference SAAC meetings, take meeting minutes, and assume the Chair's responsibilities in their absence, ensuring continuity of leadership and meeting operations. Both the Chair and Vice-Chair will work together to foster connections and serve as resources to campus SAACs for any conference-wide initiatives. 

Voting Procedures
The Chair and Vice-Chair election process will take place at a designated meeting in the Spring. A call for nominations will be sent from the conference office prior to the meeting. A simple majority vote is required for all elections, which will be conducted by secret ballot. The election process will begin with the Chair, followed by the election of the Vice-Chair once the Chair has been elected. 


updated May 2025