Eastern Michigan Athletics

About SASS

10492A Message from the Associate Athletic Director for Student-Athlete Support Services
 
Thank you for visiting the Eastern Michigan’s Student-Athlete Support Services website! It is our goal to support our student-athletes and have a positive impact on their experience here at EMU. We believe in our University’s Motto of Education First. Our Student-Athlete Support Services (SASS) staff includes a group of Academic Counselors, Academic Specialists, Graduate Assistants and tutors that are dedicated to the vision of holistic development of our student-athletes through academic support, career development, and professional enhancement in addition to their athletic endeavors. The mission of our athletic department is to above all else, is to guide, support, and inspire our Student-Athletes in their pursuit of excellence – academically, athletically and socially, while maintaining a successful Division I athletics program. The SASS Office will strive to uphold the department’s core values of Respect, Integrity, Passion and Excellence in all that we do.
 
Thank you for visiting our website and I do hope you will take the time to visit the remainder of the site to review our resources and see some highlights of the achievements of our student-athletes. Again, welcome to our website and GO EAGLES!
 
#TRUEMU
 
 
SASS Mission
The primary focus of Student Athlete Support Services (SASS) is to provide a comprehensive support program designed to facilitate the academic, athletic, personal, social and career goals of all varsity student-athletes.  The SASS staff members will promote and support success, cultural diversity, integrity and the student-athlete's timely progress towards graduation by incorporating a personal development model.
 
SASS Vision
Academic, personal and professional support are essential to college success. At Eastern Michigan University, Student-Athlete Support Services (SASS) helps student-athletes reach their full potential.

While success on the athletic field is important, success in the classroom is the number one priority. Student Athlete Support Services (SASS) is dedicated to the academic success of the Eagles. SASS strives to make sure every student-athlete finds academic success at Eastern.

Our philosophy is to offer an academic support program, integrated with the University, which will assist all student-athletes with their transition into college. This all-encompassing support continues throughout each student-athlete's collegiate career, until the day he or she receives a diploma, lands a job or enters graduate school.

Services provided through SASS include the following: programs that focus on student-athletes' special needs, monitoring academic performance, providing learning assistance, assisting with registration procedures, assisting in monitoring athletic eligibility, providing priority registration and making sure that athletes are advised about current NCAA, MAC and University rules and regulations.

Freshmen and transfer student-athletes encounter a major transition when making the switch from high school or community college to a university. These students, while adjusting to their new routines, receive extra attention and support. College is not easy. But with hard work and dedication from both the student-athlete and the support staff, the student-athlete can have a successful college experience.

The success of Eastern's student-athletes hinges on their willingness to seek assistance from SASS as well as other University student services. SASS staff members continually refer student-athletes to the admissions office, Academic Advising Center, Career Services Center, health services, the records office, financial aid and The Holman Learning Center. Faculty members also provide assistance to student-athletes through advising in course selection and providing additional help with courses when requested.

Student-Athlete Advisory Council
Tying together all of the 21 Division-I varsity sports at EMU is the Student-Athlete Advisory Council (SAAC). Each varsity team is required to have at least one representative, while the larger teams normally send a few. This group of student-athletes meets monthly to discuss way to better the student-athlete experience at EMU.
 
It is the goal of SAAC to be the student-athlete voice to the athletic administration; provide a bridge between the student-athletes and the EMU community; undertake Student-Athlete Advisory Board projects, which will benefit student-athletes and the community; and to represent Eastern Michigan University student-athletes and what they stand for.
SAAC normally undertakes a few projects a year that benefit the surrounding community of Ypsilanti. "Reading Eagles" takes place at elementary schools in the area, sending student-athletes to schools to talk and read to the children. The annual canned food drive run by SAAC takes place in the fall, providing a little competition between teams, all with the goal of helping the community.

The trademark of SAAC is the annual lip-synching and dance competition that is held every March. "Jock Jamz" pits varsity teams against each other, seeing who can perform a better routine. Always a hit with the athletic and campus community, Jock Jamz has been a successful fund raiser, donating its proceeds to Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Washtenaw County.

While SAAC does what it can to help support the community, it puts the student-athletes at EMU first. It is always looking for ways to increase student attendance at games, as well as provide better communication between teachers and student-athletes who have to miss class for competition. Run by student-athletes who understand the issues that they face and want to make a difference, SAAC has become a very successful organization in the past few years.