MaxyJR1
Well-known member
- Joined
- Nov 20, 2008
- Messages
- 13,493
- Reaction score
- 8,727
- Points
- 113
With athletic competition winding down for another year and university graduation ceremonies having recently taken place, I thought it might be a good time to elaborate on the academic measuring tools instituted by the NCAA in recent years.
Each year since 2004, the NCAA has released two academic reports with the goal of raising awareness of academic performance issues and encouraging improvements in graduation rates. The Graduation Success Rate (GSR) is announced during the fall and, as the name implies, tracks student-athlete graduation rates at NCAA institutions. The Academic Performance Rate (APR) is made public each spring and includes two components - eligibility and retention - to determine an annual and multiyear score for each sport.
Each report generates a large amount of media attention, which has significantly raised the profile of the academics issue in college athletics. You may have seen stories recently about the Gophers' APR numbers or other programs losing scholarships or suffering postseason bans for not meeting the NCAA's minimum APR requirements. It has become a serious issue with major implications.
The two reports work in tandem with the goal of encouraging each institution to provide student-athletes with the best opportunity to earn their college degrees. For the most part, the reports have started to achieve what they set out to do, which is to demonstrate that continued eligibility and progress made toward a degree combined with improved retention numbers yield higher graduation rates.
The numbers at the University of Minnesota are good; over 90 percent of student-athletes who completed their eligibility at the University of Minnesota earn degrees. Minnesota's Graduation Success Rate has improved from 67 percent in the fall of 2004 to 79 percent today, while the Federal Graduation Rate for student-athletes continues to exceed that of the University's general student population.
Similarly, our department Academic Success Rate has improved over 11 points since the inaugural year to reach an average score of 977.5 in last week's NCAA report. We are constantly exploring ways that we can keep our retention and graduation numbers as high as possible. We spend over $1 million in our McNamara Academic Center to counsel, advise, tutor and mentor our student-athletes and that investment is beginning to pay dividends. In a week during which we will bury Pinky McNamara, it is heartwarming to know that his generosity will be remembered daily as we work to improve the academic profile of Gopher Athletes.
The academic performances by our Olympic sports programs have been outstanding and we are making strides with our revenue sports. We must continue striving for consistency, encourage our student-athletes to complete their eligibility and ultimately help our student-athletes graduate from the University of Minnesota. Nothing is more important than leaving the university with a degree!
Have a great summer!
Joel Maturi
Director of Athletics
Each year since 2004, the NCAA has released two academic reports with the goal of raising awareness of academic performance issues and encouraging improvements in graduation rates. The Graduation Success Rate (GSR) is announced during the fall and, as the name implies, tracks student-athlete graduation rates at NCAA institutions. The Academic Performance Rate (APR) is made public each spring and includes two components - eligibility and retention - to determine an annual and multiyear score for each sport.
Each report generates a large amount of media attention, which has significantly raised the profile of the academics issue in college athletics. You may have seen stories recently about the Gophers' APR numbers or other programs losing scholarships or suffering postseason bans for not meeting the NCAA's minimum APR requirements. It has become a serious issue with major implications.
The two reports work in tandem with the goal of encouraging each institution to provide student-athletes with the best opportunity to earn their college degrees. For the most part, the reports have started to achieve what they set out to do, which is to demonstrate that continued eligibility and progress made toward a degree combined with improved retention numbers yield higher graduation rates.
The numbers at the University of Minnesota are good; over 90 percent of student-athletes who completed their eligibility at the University of Minnesota earn degrees. Minnesota's Graduation Success Rate has improved from 67 percent in the fall of 2004 to 79 percent today, while the Federal Graduation Rate for student-athletes continues to exceed that of the University's general student population.
Similarly, our department Academic Success Rate has improved over 11 points since the inaugural year to reach an average score of 977.5 in last week's NCAA report. We are constantly exploring ways that we can keep our retention and graduation numbers as high as possible. We spend over $1 million in our McNamara Academic Center to counsel, advise, tutor and mentor our student-athletes and that investment is beginning to pay dividends. In a week during which we will bury Pinky McNamara, it is heartwarming to know that his generosity will be remembered daily as we work to improve the academic profile of Gopher Athletes.
The academic performances by our Olympic sports programs have been outstanding and we are making strides with our revenue sports. We must continue striving for consistency, encourage our student-athletes to complete their eligibility and ultimately help our student-athletes graduate from the University of Minnesota. Nothing is more important than leaving the university with a degree!
Have a great summer!
Joel Maturi
Director of Athletics