Every Flames team has a voice at the table, literally. It’s called SALT, and it’s one of the most important student-led organizations you’ve probably never heard of.
What Is SALT?
SALT is a student organization made up of two representatives from every CSM athletic team. Recognized by the NAIA at more than a dozen schools nationwide, SALT works directly with the NAIA Association of Student-Athletes to help shape policies that affect student-athletes, not just at CSM, but across the conference.
Improving the athletic experience for all College of Saint Mary student-athletes by serving as a liaison between our teams, the athletic department, and the student body.
SALT Mission Statement
In plain terms: SALT makes sure student-athletes have a real say in their own experience, from how issues get addressed to how events come together, rather than just being told what’s happening after the fact.
The Role of a Team Rep
Every team’s two SALT reps take on three core responsibilities:
- Show up and speak up. Reps attend regular meetings, engaging in discussion and bringing ideas about athlete issues and upcoming events.
- Bring it back to the team. After every meeting, reps communicate what was discussed, decided, and coming up, to both coaches and teammates, so no one’s left out of the loop.
- Stay connected year-round. Reps keep the rest of their team updated and involved in SALT’s work throughout the entire year, not just at the start of the season.
It’s a small role with a big impact: two students per team, multiplied across every Flames program, adds up to a genuine student-athlete voice in how CSM Athletics runs.
Why It Matters
Being a student-athlete means balancing a lot, academics, practice, competition, and everything in between. SALT exists to make sure that experience is actually shaped by the people living it. It’s student-athletes advocating for student-athletes, backed by a national network through the NAIA, and grounded in something CSM already values deeply: giving every student a real voice in the community she’s part of.
That connection isn’t a coincidence SALT’s work lines up naturally with the NAIA’s Champions of Character framework, both are built on the idea that competing well and leading well go hand in hand.