University of Tennessee Athletics
UTAD Posts All-Time Best Graduation Success Rate
November 16, 2016 | General
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- The University of Tennessee department of athletics announced on Tuesday a graduation success rate (GSR) of 83 percent for student-athletes who entered the university from 2006-07 through 2009-2010, the highest ever GSR for UT Athletics. The 83 percent rate also marks a three percent increase over the last cohort's rate of 80 percent (for student-athletes who entered from 2005-06 through 2008-09).
The GSR allows institutions to add scholarship transfers that fit into their respective freshman cohorts and remove those students that choose to leave and are academically eligible according to NCAA Progress-Toward-Degree Requirements.
Six Tennessee teams posted a multi-year GSR of 100 (men's tennis, women’s tennis, rowing, women's golf, volleyball and men’s swimming and diving) and all six tied for the conference lead with their perfect 100 GSR rates. Of the 16 UT programs, 13 either increased or equaled their previous graduation success rates.
The 13 teams that improved or equaled their rates from the previous cohort are baseball (65% to 68%), men's swimming (83% to 100%), men's tennis (stayed at 100%), men’s golf (88% to 89%), women’s basketball (90% to 92%), women’s soccer (89% to 94%), women’s track (89% to 90%), women’s golf (stayed at 100%), women’s swimming (stayed at 95%), volleyball (stayed at 100%), softball (80% to 81%), women’s tennis (88% to 100%) and rowing (stayed at 100%).
Additionally, nine teams set or matched their highest multi-year GSR in program history. Those teams include baseball, men’s golf, men’s swimming and diving, men’s tennis, rowing, women’s golf, women’s swimming and diving, women’s tennis and volleyball.
A key focus for the University of Tennessee athletic programs is to graduate student-athletes and prepare them for real-world experiences. In 2001, the University of Tennessee opened the Thornton Athletics Student Life Center to provide student-athletes with superior academic support programs and personal and career development assistance.
Additional Notes:
Baseball
- Highest GSR in program history
- Increased 18 percentage points in three years (50% in 2013 to 68% in 2016)
Men’s Golf
- Tied highest rate in program history at 89%
Men’s Swimming and Diving
- Highest GSR in program history with a perfect 100%
Men’s Tennis
- Tied highest rate in program history with a perfect 100%, which was set the previous year
Rowing
- Tied highest GSR in program history with a perfect 100%
- Marks the seventh time the team has posted a perfect 100% (in 12 years of reporting)
Women’s Golf
- Tied highest GSR in program history with a perfect 100%
Women’s Soccer
- Up 5 percentage points from the previous year
- Up 16 percentage points in four years (79% in 2012 to 95% in 2016)
Women’s Swimming and Diving
- Ties highest GSR in program history with 95% (2007, 2013, and 2015)
Women’s Tennis
- Ties highest GSR in program history with a perfect 100%
- Returns to 100% for the first time since 2011
- Marks the eighth time with a perfect 100% (in 12 years of reporting)
Volleyball
- Tied highest GSR in program history with a perfect 100%
- 10th consecutive year at 100% (only 12 years of reporting)
