Nov. 2, 2007
SAN MARCOS -
Texas State University announced Friday a graduation success rate of 74 percent for student-athletes who entered the university during the 2000-01 academic year.
The announcement of the graduation success rate (GSR) is part of the NCAA's release of graduation numbers for its member institutions this week. The GSR is a relatively new measurement of graduation rates for the NCAA. The GSR allow institutions to add transfer students on scholarship that fit into the 2000-01 freshmen class and delete those student-athletes that chose to leave and are academically eligible according to Progress toward Degree Requirements.
In taking account university's which play in the Big 12, Conference USA, WAC, Southland and Sun Belt Conferences as well as Texas Christian University, Texas State's GSR ranks 17th among 59 programs.
Texas State also announced the student-athlete federal graduation rate for the 2000-01 freshman class was 68 percent and the student-athlete federal graduation rate for the four-year average was 63 percent. Both percentages were the highest among the Southland Conference membership.
"We are not only judged by wins and losses but also the success we have in the classroom," said Texas State director of athletics Larry Teis. "While we want to win championships on the playing fields and courts, we are ultimately here to graduate our student-athletes. We are very proud of the academic success our program is enjoying."
"This rate reflects the outstanding work our student-athletes are doing in the classroom," added Chris Elrod, Assistant Athletic Director for Academics and director of Texas State's Academic Student Services. "Our kids come to Texas State knowing that they have the opportunity to receive a first-class education, and it is great to see they are taking advantage of this opportunity."
Taking into account the five regional Division I conferences, Texas State ranks seventh among 59 schools in federal graduation rate and tied for seventh with Baylor and Colorado in four-year average. Teams from regional conferences ranked ahead of Texas State in four-year average were Denver (81 percent), Rice (78 percent), SMU (76 percent), Southern Miss (65 percent), Tulane (65 percent) and Kansas State (65 percent).
Texas State student-athletes have received numerous academic honors during the past year. Just last week, Bobcat defensive end Nick Clark was named an NFF National Scholar-Athlete and one of 15 finalists for the Draddy Award, which goes to the nation's top student-athlete.
Below is a list of other recent academic accomplishments by Texas State student-athletes.
During the 2006-07 academic year, Texas State had 129 student-athletes recognized on the Capital One / Southland Conference Commissioner's List. The list included student-athletes which carried a minimum 3.00 grade point average while being enrolled in at least 12 course hours.
Texas State had 17 student-athletes named to Academic All-Southland Conference teams including an unprecedented seven members of the Bobcat football team.
Texas State had two student-athletes named Southland Conference Student-Athlete of the Year - Liudmila Litvinova (women's indoor track) and Walter Musgrove (football).
Texas State pitcher Justin Fiske was named an ESPN The Magazine/CoSIDA Academic All-America First-Team selection.
Among Texas State's ESPN The Magazine/CoSIDA Academic All-District 6 First-Team selections, were five members of the Bobcat football team. Texas State led all Division I FBS and FCS programs in number of first-team selections.
