University of Memphis Athletics
Photo by: Matthew A. Smith
Memphis Athletics Earns High Marks In NCAA Academic Report
Oct 16, 2019 | General
Six programs have 100 Graduation Success Rate scores; 13 programs are above the national rate.
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – For the fifth year in a row, University of Memphis Athletics posted an all-time high in academic achievement, as the NCAA released its Graduation Success Rate (GSR) report Wednesday.
In the report, the University of Memphis GSR improved from the year before, with the University graduating 92 percent of its student-athletes for the 2012 cohort (2009-12). Last year, Memphis' GSR was 90 percent (2008-11), and for the 2010 cohort (2007-10), the GSR was 87 percent.
The five percentage-point improvement over the last three years is the largest for Memphis since its GSR jumped seven points between the 2002 and 2004 cohorts. Over that time, Memphis' GSR improved from 73 percent (2002) to 76 percent (2003) to 80 percent (2004).
"In my short time on this beautiful campus, I have been extremely impressed by the quality of our student-athletes and their academic performance, as well as the tremendous care and guidance provided by our Center for Athletic Academic Services (CAAS) under the direction of Fernandez West and his staff," said Memphis Director of Athletics Laird Veatch. "These metrics prove again that University of Memphis student-athletes are earning exceptional marks in the classroom while also winning at the highest level in their arenas of competition. This is a testament to the dedication our student-athletes put into their areas of study, as well as the support they receive from our coaches and staff."
The Tigers' Federal Graduation Rate (FGR) increased one percentage point from 60 last year to 61 this year for the same cohort (2009-12). The FGR accesses only first-time, full-time freshmen and only counts them as an academic success if they graduate from their institution of initial enrollment within a six-year period.
The GSR differs from the FGR in that it adds transfer students, mid-year enrollees and non-scholarship students (in specific cases) to the sample. This allows the GSR to more accurately look at student-athlete successes by taking into account the full variety of participants in NCAA Division I and tracking their individual outcomes.
The GSR for all NCAA Division I institutions was 88 percent.
Tigers Tidbits On GSR
In the report, the University of Memphis GSR improved from the year before, with the University graduating 92 percent of its student-athletes for the 2012 cohort (2009-12). Last year, Memphis' GSR was 90 percent (2008-11), and for the 2010 cohort (2007-10), the GSR was 87 percent.
The five percentage-point improvement over the last three years is the largest for Memphis since its GSR jumped seven points between the 2002 and 2004 cohorts. Over that time, Memphis' GSR improved from 73 percent (2002) to 76 percent (2003) to 80 percent (2004).
"In my short time on this beautiful campus, I have been extremely impressed by the quality of our student-athletes and their academic performance, as well as the tremendous care and guidance provided by our Center for Athletic Academic Services (CAAS) under the direction of Fernandez West and his staff," said Memphis Director of Athletics Laird Veatch. "These metrics prove again that University of Memphis student-athletes are earning exceptional marks in the classroom while also winning at the highest level in their arenas of competition. This is a testament to the dedication our student-athletes put into their areas of study, as well as the support they receive from our coaches and staff."
The Tigers' Federal Graduation Rate (FGR) increased one percentage point from 60 last year to 61 this year for the same cohort (2009-12). The FGR accesses only first-time, full-time freshmen and only counts them as an academic success if they graduate from their institution of initial enrollment within a six-year period.
The GSR differs from the FGR in that it adds transfer students, mid-year enrollees and non-scholarship students (in specific cases) to the sample. This allows the GSR to more accurately look at student-athlete successes by taking into account the full variety of participants in NCAA Division I and tracking their individual outcomes.
The GSR for all NCAA Division I institutions was 88 percent.
Tigers Tidbits On GSR
- Memphis' overall GSR (92) was above the national GSR (88).
- Since the first NCAA cohort in 1998, Memphis' GSR has improved all but two of the 15 years (1998-2012). The other two years Memphis' GSR remained the same.
- Thirteen of the Tigers' 15 programs had GSR above the national average in their respective sports for the 2012 cohort (2009-12).
- Memphis' overall GSR (92) was tied for second behind only Tulane's 95 percent GSR among American Athletic Conference institutions. Memphis was tied with Cincinnati for second.
- Among the state of Tennessee Division I schools, Memphis was tied with Middle Tennessee for the highest GSR (92) for public institutions. Overall, Memphis trailed only Belmont (98) and Vanderbilt (97) in the state.
- Memphis' overall GSR (92) was ahead of all 10 institutions in the Big 12 Conference. Baylor and Iowa State led the Big 12 Conference at 91 percent.
- Memphis' overall GSR (92) was ahead of 12 of the 14 institutions in the Southeastern Conference (SEC). Vanderbilt (97) and South Carolina (94) were the only SEC schools ahead of Memphis.
- Memphis' overall GSR (92) was second only to Virginia (94) among the public institutions in the Atlantic Coast Conference.
- Six Memphis programs – men's golf, women's golf, rifle, softball, men's tennis and women's tennis – recorded 100 percent GSR for the 2012 cohort. Last year, Memphis had five programs with 100 percent GSR. The year prior (2010 cohort), four Tigers programs posted a 100 percent GSR.
- Six programs improved their GSR from last year, including women's basketball (77 to 86), men's cross country/track and field (88 to 93), women's cross country/track and field (93 to 97), football (76 to 82 percent), women's soccer (92 to 96) and softball (94 to 100).
- Seven other programs equaled their GSR of last year, including men's golf, women's golf, rifle, men's tennis and women's tennis – all of which had 100 GSR. Men's basketball (93) and volleyball (92) also equaled their GSR from a year ago.
- Memphis had nine programs rank in the top-three GSR of their respective sports in the American Athletic Conference, including seven leading their sports (or tied for the lead) in the league (baseball, men's basketball, men's golf, women's golf, softball, men's tennis, women's tennis). Men's soccer (93) was second, and men's cross country/track and field (93) was third.
- Memphis rifle (100) was tied for first among the programs in the Great America Rifle Conference.
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