University of Houston Athletics
Graduation Rates Release Shows Houston Climbing
10/25/2011 12:00:00 AM | Cougar Pride
Oct. 25, 2011
Houston, Texas - Academic success rates for University of Houston student-athletes continue to improve as indicated by the release of NCAA Federal Graduation Rates (FGR) on Tuesday.
The graduation rates measure the success of the scholarship freshmen student-athletes who entered in fall 2004, and show that the school has increased its NCAA Graduation Success rate to nearly 70 percent over the past seven years and that both the Federal Graduation and NCAA Graduation Success rates have improved dramatically during that stretch.
More recent data from the Department of Athletics shows the impact of Houston's newly established Cougar Pride Leadership Academy. UH student-athletes enjoyed their most successful academic semesters in school history following the implementation of the program in 2010, recording all-time highs in grade-point average (2.79) and academic credit hours passed (13.7 hours per semester) during the 2010-11 academic calendar year.
"There is no higher priority for us than graduating our student-athletes," Director of Athletics Mack Rhoades said. "Over the last few years we have seen an increase in our federal graduation rates and with the implementation of our new Cougar Pride Leadership Academy, graduation rates, grade-point averages, credit hours passed and Academic Progress Rates are at all-time highs. With that success, we have expanded the program and feel like we are just scratching the surface on what this program will mean for the overall development of our young men and women."
In addition to Houston's steady academic growth, the Coalition on Intercollegiate Athletics (COIA) and the John Curley Center for Sports Journalism at Penn State recently named the University of Houston as one of the six highest scoring FBS institutions in terms of implementing the "best practices" in regard to the integration of athletics into academics and singled-out the University of Houston as a case-study. Houston student-athletes are also represented in over 30 majors and in almost every UH College, including the Honors College. In 2010-11 a record 58 student-athletes were named to the Dean's List.
For more information on Houston Athletics, please visit our website, UHCougars.com.
### GO COOGS ###
