INDIANAPOLIS - The Great Midwest Athletic Conference Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC), made up of the Chair, Vice Chair, and one additional member from each of the 12 institutions, met on Tuesday, August 4, to prepare for the upcoming academic year. At least two representatives from each member institution were able to attend the meeting. 
 
The Conference SAAC meeting followed the completion of author and executive leadership coach, Justin Patton’s presentation “It Starts With You.” Over 70 student-athletes throughout the Great Midwest took advantage of the professional development opportunity. 
 
The video teleconference was led by Great Midwest SAAC President Wiley Cain, who was appointed as Conference President and a National SAAC representative for NCAA Division II in March. Cain represents the 12 member institutions of the Great Midwest with a three-year term that runs through the conclusion of the January 2023 NCAA Convention. Cain is a member of the Kentucky Wesleyan football team and is very active throughout his campus community. 
 
The Conference SAAC additionally elected a Vice Chair and Social Media Chair that will each serve one-year terms. 
 
Madi DeVries (Findlay) will serve as Vice Chair and Allie Kasprzyk (Findlay) will serve as Social Media Chair. Both DeVries and Kasprzyk are members of the women’s lacrosse team at Findlay. 
 
The Great Midwest SAAC discussed topics at both the Conference and National level during the videoconference.
 
The Committee voted on the implementation of a Community Engagement Award that will recognize an institution for success in community service hours and the impact the contributions have on the community. The Committee unanimously approved the award and it will be added to the Fall Joint Council Voting Agenda for further approval in the league’s governance structure. 
 
The student-athletes learned about the four mental health modules, eight social justice modules and 37 financial literacy modules the conference purchased through Game Plan for educating student-athletes and staff on each campus. 
 
The Committee also gained information on how to register for RISE to Vote, an initiative that provides voter education, voter registration and civic engagement. 
 
The concepts on name, image and likeness (NIL) were discussed by the group in preparation for the 2020 legislation and the completion of the Division II National SAAC Legislative Grids. 
 
The conference SAAC will have its next video teleconference on September 27 to further discuss the Division II National SAAC Legislative Grids.