Eastern Michigan Athletics
EMU's Graduation Success Rate Hits an All-Time High
11/17/2020 1:51:00 PM | General, SASS
Eastern posted an 87 percent graduation rate among student-athletes
Complete Release | NCAA Database.
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – The NCAA announced on Tuesday, Nov. 17, the Graduation Success Rate (GSR) and Federal Graduation Rate for the 2010-11 to 2013-14 freshman cohorts for all Division I institutions, as part of the annual NCAA Division I Academic Performance Program. This year's Eastern Michigan-specific data revealed an overall multi-year GSR of 87 percent, surpassing the previous record set in 2017-18 of 85 percent. The total is a 15-point jump from numbers released in 2010-11.
Overall, EMU's score was boosted by six programs that matched or exceeded program-record GSR scores. The 2019-20 numbers represent scholarship student-athletes over a six-year period starting with freshmen that entered college in 2013. The record-equaling GSR comes on the heels of five programs posting record performances in Academic Progress Rate (APR) scores announced in May.
In the GSR, 11 Eastern Michigan athletic teams improved or matched last year's scores. Baseball, women's golf, gymnastics, soccer, and volleyball each boasted a 100-percent rate.
"Academic success and degree completion are high-priority items for this department," Vice President/Director of Athletics Scott Wetherbee said. "I want to commend our student-athletes for their efforts and ability to balance all of the academic and athletic demands, our coaches for their focus on education first and recruiting talented students to our teams, and our staff for their ongoing support of our student-athletes' academic endeavors."
The GSR is a NCAA measurement that enhances the federally-mandated graduation rate by including student-athlete transfer data in its calculation. It was developed in response to colleges and universities who asked for graduation data that more accurately reflects the mobility among students in today's higher education climate. The report provides information about two groups of students at college or university: (1) all undergraduate students who were enrolled in a full-time program of studies for a degree and (2) student-athletes who received athletic aid from the college or university for any period of time during their entering year.
Among Mid-American Conference schools, Eastern Michigan was tied for first in five sport categories -- baseball, women's golf, gymnastics, soccer, and volleyball.
Tuesday's GSR report gives graduation information about students and student-athletes who entered EMU in 2013. This is the most recent graduating class for which the required six years of information is available. The GSR differs slightly from the federal graduation rates for several reasons. The GSR is designed to assess the graduation of scholarship student-athletes who initially enroll at an institution during a particular fall or spring semester and earn a baccalaureate degree within six years of their initial collegiate enrollment.
The GSR adds to the first-time freshmen, those students who entered mid-year, as well as student-athletes who transferred into an institution and received athletic aid. In addition, the GSR subtracts students from the entering cohort who are considered allowable exclusions, as well as those who left the institution prior to graduation or had athletic eligibility remaining and would have been academically eligible to compete had they returned to the institution.
The GSR is also different from the Academic Progress Rate (APR), which is a measure of eligibility, retention, and graduation for continuing academic progress for current student-athletes on a term-by-term, year-by-year basis.
The federal graduation rate, while less inclusive than the GSR, provides the only measure of historic academic comparison between student-athletes and the general student body. Using this standard, EMU student-athletes outperformed their peers in the student body by 24 percent.
Nine out of 10 student-athletes who started college in 2013 earned degrees, according to the latest Division I Graduation Success Rate data released by the NCAA. That represents the highest rate ever and an increase of one percentage point over the rate for students who entered school in 2012.
This year's rate surpasses by 10 points the 80 percent goal set by former NCAA President Myles Brand in 2006.
"The commitment of Division I college athletes to the classroom is incredible, and we celebrate their academic success," NCAA President Mark Emmert said. "To see 90 percent of student-athletes accomplish the ultimate goal of college graduation is a testament to their hard work and dedication. We must also support initiatives that help the remaining 10% of student-athletes earn their degrees. The NCAA applauds the achievements of student-athletes and will continue to support their goals in the classroom, in competition and in life."
Graduation Success Rates for Eastern Michigan's women's programs continue to excel. Eight programs posted GSRs of 86 percent-or-better, with five boasting scores above 90 percent.
On the men's side, baseball topped the chart at 100 percent with basketball, football, golf, and cross country/track posting GSR figures of 75-or-better percent.
For more information on Graduation Success Rates, please visit www.ncaa.org.
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – The NCAA announced on Tuesday, Nov. 17, the Graduation Success Rate (GSR) and Federal Graduation Rate for the 2010-11 to 2013-14 freshman cohorts for all Division I institutions, as part of the annual NCAA Division I Academic Performance Program. This year's Eastern Michigan-specific data revealed an overall multi-year GSR of 87 percent, surpassing the previous record set in 2017-18 of 85 percent. The total is a 15-point jump from numbers released in 2010-11.
Overall, EMU's score was boosted by six programs that matched or exceeded program-record GSR scores. The 2019-20 numbers represent scholarship student-athletes over a six-year period starting with freshmen that entered college in 2013. The record-equaling GSR comes on the heels of five programs posting record performances in Academic Progress Rate (APR) scores announced in May.
In the GSR, 11 Eastern Michigan athletic teams improved or matched last year's scores. Baseball, women's golf, gymnastics, soccer, and volleyball each boasted a 100-percent rate.
"Academic success and degree completion are high-priority items for this department," Vice President/Director of Athletics Scott Wetherbee said. "I want to commend our student-athletes for their efforts and ability to balance all of the academic and athletic demands, our coaches for their focus on education first and recruiting talented students to our teams, and our staff for their ongoing support of our student-athletes' academic endeavors."
The GSR is a NCAA measurement that enhances the federally-mandated graduation rate by including student-athlete transfer data in its calculation. It was developed in response to colleges and universities who asked for graduation data that more accurately reflects the mobility among students in today's higher education climate. The report provides information about two groups of students at college or university: (1) all undergraduate students who were enrolled in a full-time program of studies for a degree and (2) student-athletes who received athletic aid from the college or university for any period of time during their entering year.
Among Mid-American Conference schools, Eastern Michigan was tied for first in five sport categories -- baseball, women's golf, gymnastics, soccer, and volleyball.
Tuesday's GSR report gives graduation information about students and student-athletes who entered EMU in 2013. This is the most recent graduating class for which the required six years of information is available. The GSR differs slightly from the federal graduation rates for several reasons. The GSR is designed to assess the graduation of scholarship student-athletes who initially enroll at an institution during a particular fall or spring semester and earn a baccalaureate degree within six years of their initial collegiate enrollment.
The GSR adds to the first-time freshmen, those students who entered mid-year, as well as student-athletes who transferred into an institution and received athletic aid. In addition, the GSR subtracts students from the entering cohort who are considered allowable exclusions, as well as those who left the institution prior to graduation or had athletic eligibility remaining and would have been academically eligible to compete had they returned to the institution.
The GSR is also different from the Academic Progress Rate (APR), which is a measure of eligibility, retention, and graduation for continuing academic progress for current student-athletes on a term-by-term, year-by-year basis.
The federal graduation rate, while less inclusive than the GSR, provides the only measure of historic academic comparison between student-athletes and the general student body. Using this standard, EMU student-athletes outperformed their peers in the student body by 24 percent.
Nine out of 10 student-athletes who started college in 2013 earned degrees, according to the latest Division I Graduation Success Rate data released by the NCAA. That represents the highest rate ever and an increase of one percentage point over the rate for students who entered school in 2012.
This year's rate surpasses by 10 points the 80 percent goal set by former NCAA President Myles Brand in 2006.
"The commitment of Division I college athletes to the classroom is incredible, and we celebrate their academic success," NCAA President Mark Emmert said. "To see 90 percent of student-athletes accomplish the ultimate goal of college graduation is a testament to their hard work and dedication. We must also support initiatives that help the remaining 10% of student-athletes earn their degrees. The NCAA applauds the achievements of student-athletes and will continue to support their goals in the classroom, in competition and in life."
Graduation Success Rates for Eastern Michigan's women's programs continue to excel. Eight programs posted GSRs of 86 percent-or-better, with five boasting scores above 90 percent.
On the men's side, baseball topped the chart at 100 percent with basketball, football, golf, and cross country/track posting GSR figures of 75-or-better percent.
For more information on Graduation Success Rates, please visit www.ncaa.org.
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