The Division II Student-Athlete Advisory Committee continues to explore ways to enhance communication with Division II student-athletes throughout the country.

At its April 7 meeting, the SAAC discussed how it could use technology more effectively to enhance student-athlete understanding of NCAA policy. Web sites for a number of Division II conference SAACs were implemented last year, and the group is now focusing on a national site. Particular attention is being given to analyzing appropriate content for the national site so that it doesn't repeat information already found on the conference sites. The national site is expected to be operational by fall.

The SAAC is considering how to make the site as interactive as possible and has discussed the possibility of a chat room where Division II student-athletes can gain a greater understanding of NCAA legislation and policy matters. The SAAC also is planning to use the site to distribute its "legislative grids" it prepares before every NCAA Convention to outline its positions on proposed legislation.

In other business, the SAAC proposed that conferences be required to nominate four student-athletes when a vacancy occurs on the national committee. Conferences currently are required to nominate only two individuals. Both the Management and Presidents Councils supported the recommendation, which must be approved by the Convention.

Another SAAC recommendation, however, was not supported by the Management Council. The SAAC had asked for legislation that would require institutions to place prospective student-athletes on their Institutional Request Lists at the NCAA Initial-Eligibility Clearinghouse within 10 days of an official visit, the signing of a National Letter of Intent or the signing of an institutional financial aid agreement. The Management Council believed that implementing such a requirement would burden member institutions and would not improve the submission of necessary information from high schools.

The SAAC also heard a presentation from NCAA Fellow Faith Shearer, who reported on research about student-athlete involvement on student-athlete advisory committees. Shearer's research indicated that SAAC activities may not appeal to minority student-athletes. The report also indicated that SAACs were thought to be more effective as a vehicle for organizing community service than for making policy.

Shearer, associate director of athletics at Johns Hopkins University, recommended:

* Increasing student awareness of student-athlete advisory committees at the campus, conference and national levels.

* Improving communication with student-athlete stakeholders.

* Communicating the need for more minority members to nominating bodies.

* Creating the feeling among minority student-athletes that committee service is in their best interests.

* Increasing advisory awareness of the importance of the role they play in developing the leadership skills of committee members.

* Increasing the understanding of the needs of minority students and what they bring to committees.

* Becoming aware that student-athletes deal with diversity and racism issues and that SAACs should also.