Oct. 7, 2010
The UTEP Athletics Department is excited to reveal that it will launch a pen pal program which will pair Miner teams with elementary students from the region, state, nation and world. Classes which participate will correspond with student-athletes from a variety of UTEP teams.
The initiative was recommend by the UTEP Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC), and it is the latest plan to connect Miner student-athletes with the community. Being involved the community is extremely important to UTEP Athletics. Miner student-athletes performed close to 3,500 hours of community service during the 2009-10 academic year.
Elementary teachers interested in having their classes take part in this program should contact the UTEP Life Skills department at (915) 747-6203 or via e-mail at lifeskills@utep.edu. By signing up with this project, elementary classes will be paired up with a specific UTEP team. The teams will write about their experiences, both on and off the court, and other topics in their messages to the classes.
SAAC is a committee made up of Miner student-athletes to provide insight on the student-athlete experience. The SAAC also offers input on the rules, regulations and policies that affect student-athletes' lives on the UTEP campus. The program's goal is to provide leadership opportunities for student-athletes and to identify areas of responsibilities for student-athlete leaders.
The functions of the SAAC are as follows:
Promote communication between athletics administration and student-athletes
Disseminate information
Provide feedback and insight into athletics department issues
Generate a student-athlete voice within the campus athletic department formulation of policies
Build a sense of community within the athletics program involving all athletics teams
Solicit student-athlete responses to proposed conference and NCAA legislation
Organize community service efforts
Create a vehicle for student-athlete representation on campus-wide committees (e.g., student government)
Promote a positive student-athlete image on campus
