The Graduation Success Rate for student athletes at N.C. State surpassed the national average for Division I schools in 2012, according to a report released by the NCAA on Thursday.
At 82 percent, N.C. State’s GSR is 1 percent above the national average and increased by 5 percent from the 2011 assessment.
“It starts at day one,” said Lisa Zapata, interim director of Academic Support and vice provost of Student Development, Health and Wellness.
According to Zapata, the entire Academic Support organization is committed to creating academic success.
Katie Sheridan, associate director of Academic Support, said that strict enforcement of an attendance policy has aided in the academic success of student athletes.
According to Sheridan, if an athlete is absent from class, he or she may be penalized by not being allowed to participate in his or her next sporting event.
Though the University surpassed the national average for GSR, the University didn’t surpass the Federal Graduation Rate, which is 65 percent. The University fell 2 percent below the FGR rate to 63 percent. The FGR is the only available rate comparable to the overall student body graduation rate, according to Zapata. The University’s overall student body graduation rate is 72 percent.
According to Sheridan, though the University’s FGR is lower than the national average, what is important is the differential between the FGR and the student body graduation rate.
Sheridan said that because N.C. State’s FGR is only 9 percent different than the overall graduation rate, student athletes are indicative of the student body.
“The issues that impact the student body are the same issues that impact student athletes,” Sheridan said.
The GSR excludes students that withdraw from the University, according to Sheridan.
“Students who choose to pursue careers as professional athletes and students who transfer to other schools are not calculated into the Graduation Success Rate,” Sheridan said. “The GSR truly evaluates students that stay on campus.”
For students who chose to pursue a professional athletic career, the University offers the Reconnect Program, which allows former student athletes to complete their degree in exchange for volunteer and community service hours.
