INDIANAPOLIS---The NCAA Division I, II and III Student-Athlete Advisory Committees (SAAC) will discuss a number of issues important to NCAA student-athletes nationwide when the three groups convene January 9-12, in Nashville at the annual NCAA Convention.

SAAC is the student-athlete voice that provides feedback to NCAA committee and council members on bylaws and proposals that will affect all student-athletes within the NCAA governance structure. The SAACs will meet collectively as a group Friday, January 9, to discuss issues and strategic planning that affects all three divisions, before breaking into their divisional meetings where they will discuss issues involving their respective divisions.

Division I SAAC will spend considerable time discussing an array of legislative issues, including permissible benefits pertaining to medical expenses; individual limits on financial aid; and time demands for athletic activities and activities outside the playing season. There will be an update on the California Senate Bill 193 (SB 193), which could affect student-athletes competing in sports in the state of California.

Division I also will ratify current Vice-chair Katie Groke as the new Division I SAAC chair, which will go into effect immediately after the January meeting. The current Division I chair is Dylan Malagrino. Division I SAAC also will talk about the current appointment process for selecting student-athletes to serve on SAAC, and continue discussion on amateurism and endorsement/modeling issues. Additionally, the Division I SAAC will meet with the Board of Directors Monday, January 12, which marks the second year that the two groups will convene to discuss key issues.

Division II SAAC will discuss its partnership with the Make-A-Wish Foundation and related fundraising activities. Division II student-athletes are spearheading the effort to raise funds on their campuses to help children with life-threatening medical conditions through the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Money also will be raised during the Convention as part of the joint SAAC community service project.

Division II SAAC will propose a one-time three-year commitment to SAAC for its student-athlete members. Division II SAAC will have 11 of its members rotate off of the committee following this meeting. The division also is expected to ratify current Vice-chair Ben Geiss as its new chair, which will be effective after the January meeting. A new vice-chair will also be selected. The current Division II chair is Brianna Williams.

In addition to committee reports, Division II SAAC also will discuss SB 193 and how it could affect Division II student-athletes in the state of California should it be passed. Division II SAAC also will talk about the inaugural 2004 NCAA National Championships Festival, which will be held in Orlando in May, and the committee's involvement at the festival.

Division III will continue discussions on legislative proposals from its November meeting, in addition to providing committee reports. Division III also will discuss its upcoming Student-Athlete Regional Leadership Conference, which is slated for January 23-25, in Dallas, Texas. The regional conferences will provide Division III student-athletes from all points in the country with the opportunity to meet, discuss specific Division III issues and focus on enhancing their leadership potential.

Division III SAAC will pay particular attention to discussions concerning the Division III reform proposal sponsored by the Division III Presidents Council. The proposal seeks to align practices at membership institutions more closely with Division III philosophy. In addition, Division III SAAC will address concerns with SB 193, as it could affect student-athletes in California attending Division III schools. The Division III SAAC chair is Jaime Fluker.

Prior to the divisional SAAC meetings, Division I, II and III SAACs will participate in a community service project at the Monroe Harding Children's Home. The three SAACs will then meet to discuss topics of relevance to all three divisions, such as the NCAA Association-wide Strategic Plan and sportsmanship behavior. Additionally, each SAAC will provide its divisional committee updates.

[MEDIA NOTE: Media may schedule interviews with SAAC chairs and vice chairs during the NCAA Convention by contacting a member of the NCAA media and public relations group in Nashville at the Gaylord Opryland Hotel at 615/458-0840, beginning January 9.]

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