SUBMITTED NEWS RELEASE
The University of Nevada’s Graduation Success Rate for student-athletes is at an all-time high for the second year in a row, according to the most recent data released by the NCAA this week.
Nevada’s student-athletes posted an overall Graduation Success Rate of 73 percent, the highest mark in school history and up from its previous best mark of 70 percent in 2008. Nevada’s Graduation Success Rate has improved in each of the five years the NCAA has released the data from 63 percent in 2005, 65 percent in 2006, 67 percent in 2007, 70 percent in 2008 and now 73 percent in 2009.
The federal graduation rate for Nevada’s student-athletes, which doesn’t count transfer students, is 63 percent this year, which is also the highest that mark has ever been, and up from 54 percent in 2008.
“We are very proud to see our Graduation Success Rate climb to the highest it’s ever been at 73 percent and have the two best marks in school history in the last two years,” Nevada Director of Athletics Cary Groth said. “Our student-athletes should be commended for their achievements, and we want to thank our academic staff, coaches and the university community for all of their hard work in helping to provide our student-athletes with the academic support and resources they need to reach the ultimate academic goal of graduation.”
The current Graduation Success Rate is based on student-athletes who began full-time enrollment at any school in 2002-03 and received athletic aid in their first year of college.
The Graduation Success Rate was developed by the NCAA as part of its academic reform initiative to more accurately assess the academic success of student-athletes. Unlike the federal graduation rate, the Graduation Success Rate holds institutions accountable for transfer student-athletes, includes mid-year enrollees, and is calculated for every sport.
Nevada’s highest ever Graduation Success Rate mark is the latest accomplishment in a year of academic successes for the Wolf Pack. All 17 of Nevada’s teams turned in a multi-year Academic Progress Rate at or above the NCAA’s standard of 925 in 2008-09, and Nevada was again the only school in the Western Athletic Conference to have all of its programs above the 925 mark. Nevada saw 73 student-athletes earn their degrees in the 2008-09 academic year, while 98 Wolf Pack student-athletes were named to the 2008-09 WAC All-Academic teams and six were named to the ESPN the Magazine Academic All-District teams. Rifle team member Andrew Hickey also became Nevada’s first first-team Academic All-American in six years, while golfer Taylor Coffman earned All-America Scholar honors from the Golf Coaches Association of America.
“This speaks volumes for the commitment of our student-athletes,” University President Milt Glick said. “It is our responsibility to support and encourage their success both on and off the playing field, although ultimately it is up to them to persist and earn a degree. I am enormously proud of our student-athletes, our coaches and staff who support them, and this accomplishment.”
