INDIANAPOLIS – The NCAA released its Graduation Success Rate Report earlier this week and Eastern Illinois student-athletes are grading out well both in the class room as well as their sport of competition. EIU's Graduation Success Rate was 80 percent for student-athletes that enrolled in 2004 academic year.
The Panthers had a 100 percent gradation rate in four sports – men's tennis, women's golf, softball and volleyball. The NCAA's Graduation Success Rate includes transfer students and student-athletes who leave in good academic standing. The GSR measures graduation over six years from initial college enrollment.
“The hard work our student-athletes put into their academic pursuits continues to show as EIU is graduating 80 percent of its student-athletes,” said EIU athletic director Barbara Burke. “Our goal is to have the best student-athletes not only on the playing field but also in the class room.”
More than eight out of every 10 Division I student-athletes are earning their college degrees within six years, the highest marks ever for graduation, according to the most recent NCAA figures.
The single-year Graduation Success Rate for student-athletes who began college in 2004 is 82 percent, a new high for the NCAA, three points higher than last year and eight points higher than when GSR collection began a decade ago.
NCAA President Mark Emmert said the GSR for the last four graduating classes (2001-2004) has hit 80 percent as well, a new high for Division I athletics and one point higher than the last four-year average.
"Academic reform is working. Students are better prepared when they enter college, and they are staying on track to earn their degrees," Emmert said. "Some doubted our efforts, but the resolve of our presidents is strong, and we are reaping the fruit of several years of hard work."
Emmert noted that progress is still needed. While the GSRs for men's basketball and football continue to improve over time, they are still the lowest of all sports and have yet to reach 70 percent, he said.
"We cannot become complacent," Emmert said. "Our work is not done."
