March 2, 2005
Academics: Student-Athletes Score Above
Average on Academic Rating
Youngstown State University’s
student athletes score well above
average in a new assessment of the
academic success of the nation’s
college sports programs.
YSU posted a composite Academic Progress Rate of 953 in the
report released this week by the
National Collegiate Athletic
Association, above the 938 average
for public universities nationwide
and above the scores of several
other Ohio universities.
“We have worked hard to ensure that our athletes are
successful both in the classroom and
on the playing field,” said Ron
Strollo, YSU executive director of
intercollegiate athletics.
“Our academic advisors and our coaches do a good job sending
the right messages and providing the
needed support that result in an
overall positive and successful
academic experience for our
athletes.”
The NCAA report ranks each university on a scale of 1 to
1,000 based on a complicated formula
that measures how many athletes are
staying in school and making
adequate progress toward their
degrees. Teams with an Academic
Progress Rate of less than 925 for
two years could lose scholarships
and face other penalties.
Of the 328 institutions included in the report, YSU ranks
149th, according to data in The
Chronicle of Higher Education.
Yale University received the highest
rate of 999, while Texas Southern
University posted the lowest score
of 839.
YSU’s 953 rate compared well to other public institutions in
Ohio, topping Toledo (916),
Cincinnati (929), Ohio State (938),
Ohio University (951), and Cleveland
State (952). Miami University posted
the highest score in Ohio at 986.
The report also provided individual scores for each of the
university’s sports teams. Strollo
said YSU’s score for football was
the highest in the eight-team
Gateway Football Conference.
The rating is the latest recognition of YSU’s academic
success in intercollegiate
athletics. In 2003 and 2004, the
university received USA Today/NCAA
Foundation Academic Achievement
Awards for its high student-athlete
graduation rate. |
