UTRGV SAAC Constitution

  1. ARTICLE
    1. PURPOSE:
      1. The SAAC committees major focus is provide a vehicle that promotes dialect between student-athletes and UTRGV athletics administration. The committee is a representation of the student-athlete population and has the authority to make formal recommendations with the sole intention to improve the overall experience of the UTRGV student-athlete.
  2. ARTICLE
    1. COMPOSITION/STRUCTURE:
      1. Two representatives from each team including athletic trainers to serve a two-year term. Election will take place in the student-athletes sophomore year to serve their junior and senior years.
      2. Team members will nominate and discuss the team role of the SAAC representative with the approval of the Head Coach.
      3. Elections will be held the first Tuesday in December of each year, with a potential running nominations list for the following year.
      4. Attendance is mandatory for each meeting; a minimum of one representative from each team must attend the regularly scheduled monthly meetings.
      5. Meeting will be held the first Tuesday evening of each month at 8:00pm. Location TBD.
      6. President, Vice-President and the Secretary position will be elected at the first meeting based on majority vote. 
  3. ARTICLE
    1. MEMBERSHIP:
      1. Membership is limited to all eligible/competing student-athletes as defined by the NCAA, any applicable conference and the certifying institution, or representative of the UTRGV Department of Intercollegiate Athletics. 
      2. The SAAC membership term will be from the beginning of the month of May to the end of the month of May in the following year.
      3. The SAAC shall vote, in order, to elect one President, one Vice President, one Member-At-Large, one Secretary and one Treasurer who are all returning SAAC members in good standing.
      4. Attending scheduled meetings-if any sport team representative misses three (3) or more scheduled SAAC meetings, he/she will be removed from the committee and be replaced by that sport team’s alternate representative.
        1. Each sport will have one student-athlete representative as elected by the student-athletes from the respective sport team.
        2. Each sport team will also designate one alternate representative who will serve on the committee if their team representative cannot fulfill his or her duties, and/or fails to uphold the requirements of their position
      5. Each team’s chosen representative shall survey their respective teammates and recommend, to the SAAC Advisor, their team representative for membership in SAAC.  The SAAC Advisor will oversee membership in order to be sensitive to issues pertaining to diversity.
      6. President-responsible for running the meetings and delegating duties to other council members. The President will appoint council member to sub-committees.
      7. Vice President-Acts as a support for the President and in the President’s absence the Vice President shall perform the Presidents said responsibilities.
      8. Secretary-Assists the President in administrative duties and is responsible for taking minutes at every meeting.
      9. Members are required to communicate and educate their teammates and the administration on all relevant issues
      10. Serving on subcommittees, as the five subcommittees are complementary to the SAAC.
      11. Committing to SAAC projects; including but not limited to, community service, fundraising, promoting and attending events.
      12. Membership is limited to all eligible/competing student-athletes as defined by the NCAA, any applicable conference and the certifying institution, or representative of the UTRGV Department of Intercollegiate Athletics. 
      13. Each sport team will also designate one alternate representative who will serve on the committee if their team representative cannot fulfill his or her duties, and/or fails to uphold the requirements of their positions.
  4. ARTICLE
    1. MEETINGS/QUORUM:
      1. Meetings are scheduled to be held the first Tuesday of every month during the academic year. Location and time to be set after the first meeting. All members will receive a copy of the minutes and the President will approve the minutes.
      2. The minimal number of officers and members of a committee or organization, usually a majority, who must be present for valid transaction of business, is ¾ of the majority.
  5. ARTICLE
    1. JURSIDICTION:
      1. The committee is a representation of the student-athlete population and is advisory in nature. The committee has the authority to recommend policies and provisions to the Athletic Administration and Athletic Council. However, it is understood that all formal changes must be approved in writing from the Director of Athletics. In order to make fair recommendations a motion must first be made, seconded and approved by at least ¾ majority votes of SAAC members.
  6. ARTICLE
    1. SUPPORT PERSONNEL:
      1. The Assistant Athletic Director for Compliance is the primary support person. In event the Assistant Athletic Director for Compliance is unable to fulfill supporting role the Associate Athletic Director for Student Services, Faculty Athletic Representative or the Director of Athletics will support the SAAC committee.
      2. Provides guidance in areas of University policy and NCAA rules.
      3. Helps to arrange meetings and contacting members with dates, times, and Locations.
      4. Acts as an advocate with the Department of Intercollegiate Athletics, UTRGV administration and relevant institutional committees.
  7. ARTICLE
    1. SUBCOMMITTEE STRUCTURE:
      1. All designated sub-committees must be composed of at least three SAAC members.
      2. All designated sub-committees will report progress to the entire SAAC during scheduled meetings. Sub-committees will vote a leader within each sub-committee to present reports, organize meetings and projects.
  8. ARTICLE
    1. MEETING AGENDA
      1. The agenda will coincide with the SAAC Advisor, SAAC President and SAAC members’ discretion.
      2. Time must be allotted for open discussion.
      3. SAAC will meet a minimum of once a month during the academic year.
  9. ARTICLE
    1. OFFICERS
  10. President
    1. Shall oversee SAAC as a whole, not as his/her team representative.
    2. Presides over all meetings.
    3. Acts as spokesperson for SAAC.
    4. Will appoint and lead sub-committees.
    5. Must have served in SAAC for at least one year.
    6. Will be an active member of the Student-Athletic Advisory Committee.
  11. Vice President
    1. Presides over meetings when President is absent.
    2. Will assume the position of President for the following year. The Vice President cannot be a senior.
  12.  Secretary
    1. Will be in charge of taking minutes during meetings and distributing them to all SAAC representatives.
    2. Will be elected and voted upon.
  13. Treasurer
    1. Will be responsible for all SAAC money and is custodian of financial records.
    2. Will advise SAAC regarding finance and budget matters.
  14. Member-At-Large
    1. Will fulfill any missing officer’s position in his or her absence.
    2. Will take on any administrative duties as assigned by the President.
    3. Will be elected and voted upon.
  1. ARTICLE
    1. AMENDMENTS
      1. Amendments to this constitution may be suggested at any SAAC meeting.
      2. Voting on the amendment(s) shall occur at any subsequent meeting and will be ratified by a two-thirds majority vote of all SAAC members or designated alternates.
      3. All amendments must then be approved by the Committee on Student Organizations prior to being written into the constiution.
    2. COPY OF CONSTITUTION
      1. A copy of this constitution will be given to all newly-inducted members at the first meeting held during the month of September.
      2. Additional copies of this constitution shall be made available to anyone upon request, by contacting the SAAC Advisor.