The Marywood University Athletics and Recreation Department offers several programs dedicated to the well-being of the student-athlete to help them grow on the field, in the classroom and in life.  Marywood University offers the following programs for student-athletes:

-Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC)
-NCAA CHAMPS/Lifeskills Program
-NCAA Leadership Conference
-Community Service Programs
-Student-Athlete Seminars
-Other Programs

The Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) is a student-athlete run committee that meets approximately once a month to discuss issues facing the Division III student-athlete.  Normally, each varsity athletic team has two or more representatives attend these meetings.  The SAAC conducts community service projects and create initiatives that help better the all around experience for the student-athlete while at Marywood University. 

Since 1998, Marywood University has been a member of the NCAA CHAMPS/Life Skills program.  The mission of the NCAA is to maintain intercollegiate athletics as an integral part of the campus educational program and the student-athlete as an integral part of the student body. With this in mind, the CHAMPS/Life Skills Program was created to support the student-athlete development initiatives of NCAA member institutions and to enhance the quality of the student-athlete experience within the context of higher education.

In the process of achieving this mission, the CHAMPS/Life Skills Program will: 

• Promote student-athletes' ownership of their academic, athletic, career, personal and community responsibilities.      
• Meet the changing needs of student-athletes.             
• Promote respect for diversity and inclusion among student-athletes.             
• Assist student-athletes in identifying and applying transferable skills.             
• Enhance partnerships between the NCAA, member institutions and their communities for the purpose of education.      
• Foster an environment that encourages student-athletes to effectively access campus resources.     
• Encourage the development of character, integrity and leadership skills.

Participating institutions in the CHAMPS/Life Skills Program are provided with instructional materials and supplemental resources which support a student-athlete's development in five areas: academics, athletics, personal development, career development and community service. 

Each year, through the NCAA CHAMPS/Life Skills Program, a Marywood University student-athlete has the opportunity to represent the Pacers at the NCAA Leadership Conference.  The NCAA National Leadership Conference provides NCAA student-athletes with a forum to openly discuss issues that may affect them on their campuses and in their communities, while also providing them with the opportunity to enhance their leadership, communication, decision-making and problem-solving skills. The leadership conference also promotes better communication among student-athletes, coaches, administrators, faculty and communities. The five-day leadership conference consists of daily exercises and activities to help the student-athletes develop as individuals and as contributing members to a group.

The conference is an outreach of the successful CHAMPS/Life Skills Program and involves close to 325 student-athletes each year who compete in fall, winter and spring sports in Divisions I, II and III. Many of the student-athletes who participate are members of their conference and campus Student-Athlete Advisory Committees (SAACs). Each NCAA member institution that has a CHAMPS/Life Skills Program is encouraged to nominate student-athletes from their campus for the annual leadership conference.

All student-athletes are encouraged to participate in a team community serve projects each year. Projects have included Habitat for Humanity, Boy's and Girl's Club Shoot-Out, Kid's programs, and local soup kitchen involvement.  Often, the community service projects are run through the SAAC or CHAMPS/Life Skills Program. 

All student-athletes are required to attend seminars that are held each semester (ie - one in the fall and one in the spring).  In the past, seminars have involved nationally recognized speakers and are centered on life skills, performance enhancement, and other career development issues.

Marywood University’s Athletics and Recreation Department offers several other programs which benefit the student-athlete as well.  Several programs are offered annually to student-athletes to interact with different University Constituencies.  These have included National Student-Athlete Day, Senior/Faculty luncheons, Student Government Liaisons, Student-Athlete Alumni Day, Athletic Advisory Committee, and Pacers Club.

To learn more about any of these programs, please contact Athletic Intern Peter Schmidt at (570) 961-4724 x 2453 or peschmidt@marywood.edu.