Pueblo -- Athletes at the University of Southern Colorado have been
excelling in the classroom as well as the court and field and have been honored
for those efforts.
As part of the 2002 USA TODAY - NCAA Academic Achievement Awards program, USC
learned recently it was ranked among the Top Ten NCAA Division II schools with
the highest rate of improvement in student-athlete graduation rates. USC was
ranked as the eighth best NCAA Division II institution in terms of having the
greatest increase in percentage of student-athletes graduating (36 percent) over
the freshmen entering in 1994. USC competes in five men's and five women's
sports as members of the NCAA Division II Rocky Mountain Athletic
Conference.
"To be recognized in this manner is a tribute to the dedication of our
coaches and student-athletes," said USC Athletic Director Chris Gage.
"Kara Ketterer has done an exceptional job with the supervision and
administration of the student-athlete study skills program, and she should be
commended for her efforts as should the student-athletes for their participation
in that program."
The following are the top 10 NCAA Division schools in the category and the
respective increase in graduation rates:
Chaminade (Hawaii) +58
Hawaii-Hilo +57
Winston-Salem (NC) State +52
Alaska Fairbanks +48
Minnesota-Crookston +44
Johnson C. Smith (NC) + 44
Queens College (NY) +37
Southern Colorado +36
Bluefield State (VA) +35
Mesa State (CO) +34
California Poly-Pomona +34
This is the second year the academic achievement awards have been given and
are possible due to a gift of $2.9 million given by USA TODAY to the NCAA
The gift was made to establish a program - the only national awards program
of its kind - that recognizes colleges and universities in three categories:
institutions with the highest student-athlete graduation rates above the
average of the student body, institutions with the greatest increase in
percentage of student-athletes graduating over the previous cohort, and
institutions graduating the highest percentage of student-athletes. More
than 360,000 student-athletes compete at 1,200 NCAA member institutions.
"We started this program to help make a statement that while a primary
focus for college athletes is achievement in athletics competition, success
in the classroom also counts," said Thomas Curley, President and
Publisher of USA Today.
The University of Southern Colorado is a regional,
comprehensive university emphasizing professional, career-oriented, and
applied programs. Displaying excellence in teaching, celebrating diversity,
and engaging in service and outreach, USC is distinguished by access,
opportunity, and the overall quality of services provided to its students.
