The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga Athletics Department continues to score historically impressive numbers related to student-athlete graduation rates. Based on information released by the NCAA this week, eight of the Mocs 13 reporting programs beat the national average for NCAA Division I.
Overall, the Mocs reported an 88% graduation rate, the fourth highest mark on record. The NCAA began tracking GSR scores in 1998. All totaled, six of UTC's 13 measured programs scored a perfect 100% graduation rate. Figures released this week reflect student-athletes who entered school in 2016.
"Graduating student-athletes with a meaningful degree is always a top priority for our program," stated Vice Chancellor and Director of Athletics Mark Wharton. "Our improvements over the last decade have been the result of a targeted approach by our academic enhancement staff and supported by our coaches and administration.
"The new world of the transfer portal and increased student-athlete movement presents some unique challenges moving forward. We are working hard now to determine best practices and ways to continue to provide quality academic guidance to all of our student-athletes."
The NCAA has tracked GSR for more than two decades, and student-athletes have surpassed the original benchmark goal of 80%. Long-term graduation rate increases have been observed year after year from an overall 74% in 2002 to this year's record 91%.
| Women's Basketball |
100% Graduation Success Rate |
93% National Average |
| Men's Cross Country |
100% |
84% |
| Women's XC/T&F |
95% |
92% |
| Soccer |
100% |
96% |
| Softball |
95% |
94% |
| Men's Tennis |
100% |
93% |
| Women's Tennis |
100% |
97% |
| Volleyball |
100% |
95% |
Volleyball continued its impressive streak with a perfect score for the ninth year in a row. It is five in a row for soccer and men's and women's tennis, while men's cross country hit 100% for the fourth consecutive season. Women's basketball also stayed at 100% for the second consecutive year.
Wrestling posted a program record 81%, while men's basketball (83%) and softball (95%) scored their second-best numbers. Women's cross country and track & field beat the national average with a 95% rate, the fourth year in a row with that mark or higher.
The GSR — which more accurately reflects mobility of college students beyond what the federal graduation rate measures — was created by the Division I Board of Directors in 2002. The federal rate counts as an academic failure any students who leave their initial school, even if the students transfer and enroll at another school. Also, the federal rate does not include students who enter school as transfer students.
The GSR formula removes from the rate student-athletes who leave school while academically eligible and includes student-athletes who transfer to a school after initially enrolling elsewhere. This calculation provides a more accurate measure of student-athlete success.
For more information on the NCAA's graduation rates data, see the official
release here.
If you would like to help the Mocs continue their academic success,
click here to give to the UTC Student-Athlete Academic Enhancement Fund.
