Student-Athlete Advisory Committee
The purpose of the Niagara University Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (NUSAAC) is to:
- Give a voice to our 300 plus student-athletes by seeking their input on pertinent issues and policies regarding the athletic department, other campus offices, and college athletics in general.
- Increase student-athlete awareness of athletic and legislative issues nationally (National Collegiate Athletic Association – NCAA), regionally (Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference – MAAC), and locally (Niagara University – NU) through education and participation promoting citizenship, activism, and leadership.
- Improve student-athlete welfare by addressing their needs and concerns, providing Life Skills seminars, recognizing their academic and athletic achievements, and promoting school spirit to help create a positive college experience overall and strengthen the sense of community on campus and beyond.
- Volunteer in the community by organizing and participating in community service projects and raising money for local charities.
- Enhance leadership skills by providing opportunities to receive practical training and gain invaluable experience to become a more effective leader on their respective teams, on campus, in the community, and in their professional careers.
NU SAAC is comprised of approximately 40 members and is led by five officers. The 18 varsity athletic teams each choose two or three student-athletes to serve as their SAAC representatives. The membership is divided into separate but inter-relative groups. The Purple Eagles Peer Support (PEPS) group organizes and oversees internal events such as athletes supporting athletes game nights (i.e. Purple Pride games), Life Skills programming (i.e. alcohol and drug awareness, nutrition, hazing prevention, etc seminars), and special projects (i.e. Life After Sports event) to support and educate student-athletes. The Community Outreach by Purple Eagles (COPE) group organizes and oversees external events such as athletic department community service projects, nationally recognized events (i.e. National Girls and Women in Sports Day, National Student-Athlete Day, etc), and special projects to assist local charities. NU SAAC meets once or twice a month during the academic year and the officers work closely with the Director of Athletics and Associate Athletic Director/Senior Woman Administrator.
