University of Tennessee Athletics
UT Student-Athletes Win In The Classroom
January 08, 2015 | General
By Brian Rice
UTSports.com
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- As Tennessee student-athletes begin a new semester this week, they enter the next phase of their academic careers coming off of one of the best semesters in UT history.
Tennessee student-athletes collectively earned a 3.00 grade point average, the fourth consecutive semester that UT has finished over 3.00, while 10 sports earned team GPAs of 3.00 or above.
The numbers not only represent great accomplishments for the present student-athletes, they are also another indication of the remarkable progress that has been made in the academic culture at UT.
“We have made significant progress as I look back over the last three year window,” vice chancellor and director of athletics Dave Hart said. “Of the progress we’ve made in a variety of areas, I’m particularly proud of the progress we’ve made in the academic arena.”
At the time of Hart’s arrival, several programs, including football, were in danger of falling below academic benchmarks set by the NCAA that could have affected various elements of the programs, including scholarships and postseason appearances.
Now, not only are Tennessee’s programs far from danger, they are setting records for GPA and graduating student-athletes on time and, in many cases, early.
The Volunteer football program finished the fall semester with a record 2.77 GPA, with 46 players earning a 3.0 or better, also a program best. The 46 players with a 3.0 or better GPA is more than double the 21 UT had in the fall of 2011 and the third-straight fall with an increase.
“This is why I use the word ‘significant’ in front of progress because it has been that,” Hart said. “I think Butch has set a tone, as all of our coaches do, in making that a real priority, not just lip service remark. It is a genuine priority and our football players understand that.”
Hart said the credit belongs to the student-athletes, who have been led in the transformation by Dr. Joe Scogin, Senior Associate Athletic Director & Assistant Provost and his staff at the Thornton Athletics Student Life Center.
“Dr. Scogin has played a remarkable role in setting the tone and the Thornton Center staff have done a terrific job collectively. We’ve not only performed well, we’ve performed at record-setting levels.”
The progress is certainly not limited to football. Baseball had a record Fall GPA, the second consecutive semester with a record GPA performance. Six teams posted perfect APR scores and four had a 100 percent graduation success rate.
255 student-athletes, which represents more than half of the student-athletes on campus, earned a 3.00 GPA or better, with 19 finishing with a perfect 4.00. 116 student-athletes were recognized on their respective colleges’ Dean’s List.
“One of the most gratifying components of the enhancements that we’ve made has been the student-athletes’ reaction,” Hart said. “They’re proud of it. They should be proud of it. They talk about it, they bring it up and I’m glad they feel so strongly about that. That’s why we’re all here.”
Hart admits that he is competitive to a fault and wants to win on the field. But he also recognizes that while athletics is the most visible component of the university, it is not and will never be the primary mission.
“We’re here to make certain these young men and women get the degree of their choice and pursue their dreams,” Hart said. “A small percentage will have the opportunity to play at the next level, but that’s short-lived, the statistics bear that out. So we’re here to help them grow as people and get degrees.”
Tennessee Student-Athlete GPAs, 2014 Fall Semester
| Sport | Fall 2014 | Fall 2013 | Fall 2012 | Fall 2014 3.00+ GPA |
Fall 2014 Dean's List |
| Baseball | 2.90 | 2.88 | 2.83 | 17 | 7 |
| Men's Basketball | 2.54 | 2.51 | 2.39 | 3 | 0 |
| Women's Basketball | 3.05 | 3.05 | 2.84 | 8 | 4 |
| Football | 2.77 | 2.64 | 2.49 | 45 | 14 |
| Men's Golf | 3.39 | 3.34 | 3.43 | 9 | 5 |
| Women's Golf | 3.36 | 3.34 | 3.40 | 8 | 4 |
| Rowing | 3.17 | 3.35 | 3.27 | 42 | 25 |
| Soccer | 3.21 | 3.19 | 3.19 | 22 | 13 |
| Softball | 2.91 | 3.22 | 3.42 | 10 | 3 |
| Men's Swimming & Diving | 3.07 | 2.98 | 3.01 | 15 | 7 |
| Women's Swimming & Diving | 3.25 | 3.20 | 3.35 | 21 | 10 |
| Men's Tennis | 3.15 | 3.21 | 3.18 | 6 | 4 |
| Women's Tennis | 3.53 | 3.54 | 3.35 | 7 | 5 |
| Men's Track & Field | 2.96 | 2.93 | 2.90 | 19 | 4 |
| Women's Track & Field | 3.09 | 3.12 | 3.07 | 13 | 7 |
| Volleyball | 2.96 | 3.25 | 3.30 | 10 | 4 |
| OVERALL | 3.00 | 3.02 | 2.97 | 255 | 116 |
