CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa - It is during this week, April 13-19, that Division III as a group unites to celebrate what makes Division III so special. Members of the A-R-C SAAC are using the Division III Week platform as an opportunity to not only celebrate but share messages important to our institutions, Division III, and the conference.
Members of the American Rivers Conference Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) took part in the conference's sixth Student-Athlete Leadership Conference February 7-9, 2020. The leadership conference served as an opportunity to enrich the participants' identity as student-athletes not only at their institutions but as NCAA Division III and A-R-C student-athletes. With that, attendees created public service announcements (PSA) focusing on NCAA Division III initiatives.
"Break the Stigma" is the first of four PSAs that will be shared this week. NCAA Division III SAAC initiated the campaign, "Breath the Stigma" as a means to encourage student-athletes, administrators, coaches, staff, and support networks across the country to start the discussion, speak out on, and break the stigma surrounding mental health.
Interested in learning more about Division III Week? Visit the
NCAA Division III Week home page. Those who would like to support DIII week are encouraged to use #D3Week, #WhyD3, #NCAAD3 on social media throughout the week.
For more information on A-R-C SAAC, follow below.
A-R-C SAAC Mission Statement:
The mission of the American Rivers Conference Student-Athlete Advisory Committee is to enhance the student-athlete experience by promoting opportunity, protecting student-athlete welfare, acting as a liaison between student-athletes and administration, fostering a positive student-athlete image, and, when possible, participating in conference-wide service projects.
Purpose of A-R-C SAAC:
- To provide a student-athlete voice within the conference.
- To solicit student-athlete response to proposed NCAA and conference legislation.
- To suggest potential NCAA and conference legislation.
- To create a vehicle for student-athlete representation both conference-wide and nationally.
What is SAAC:
A Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) is made up of student-athletes assembled to provide insight on the student-athlete experience. SAAC also offers input on the rules, regulations and policies that affect student-athletes’ lives.
History of NCAA SAAC:
An Association-wide SAAC was adopted at the 1989 NCAA Convention and was formed primarily to review and offer student-athlete input on NCAA activities and proposed legislation that affected student-athlete welfare. The initial national committee was comprised of student-athletes from all membership divisions to ensure that the studentathlete voice accounted for a diversity of educational and athletics experiences at all types NCAA member institutions. In August 1997, the NCAA federated along divisional lines. The federation caused the SAAC to expand to three separate SAACs – representing NCAA Divisions I, II and III.
