MAC accepts student-made time proposals
The Mid-American Conference announced Thursday the adoption of four time obligation proposals for full implementation for the 2017-18 academic year.
The MAC's Student-Athlete Advisory Committee developed the proposals. The MAC SAAC is led by President Kelsi White, a field hockey senior at Miami (OH).
"As student-athletes, we are all very appreciative for the support and consideration of our voice we have received from the Athletic Directors up to this point," White said in a press release.
The proposals address four requirements for student-athletes:
1) Establish a two-week time off period from required athletics activity following the end of a championship season segment.
2) Require student-athletes that are out-of-season to have a week off with no athletics obligations at the beginning of each semester.
3) Prohibit athletics obligations between away-from-home travel and practice for at least eight hours following the return to campus.
4) Require practice schedules be shared with student-athletes weekly and followed by coaching staffs, and, if changes are required, they must be known by student-athletes 24 hours prior to the scheduled practice time.
The MAC Council of Presidents unanimously accepted the proposals. These were originated last spring and were reviewed with MAC presidents, directors of athletics, senior administrators and faculty athletic representatives during the 2016 MAC Spring Meetings in Cleveland.
"I am pleased with this outcome as our students took initiative to put forth proposals and engaged in in-depth conversations with our governance groups," said MAC Commissioner Jon Steinbrecher in a press release. "The end result should be an enhanced experience, academically, athletically and socially for Mid-American Conference students who participate in athletics."
Central Michigan Athletics Director Dave Heeke also commented on the situation, saying "this initiative illustrates the respect we have for our student-athlete's time and emphasizes the importance of providing a balanced experience. Providing Mid-American Conference student-athletes with a voice has always been a critical component to our success and this will continue in the future."
