UF Receives Presidents' Award for Academic Excellence

Twenty-six Division II member schools will be honored as part of the Presidents' Award for Academic Excellence program for achieving four-year Academic Success Rates of 90 percent or higher. This is the sixth year of the program and the Oilers athletic programs combined for the 24th-best graduation rate in all of NCAA Division II.

"Division II's philosophy is built on a commitment to supporting the whole student, including academic success as a primary emphasis," said Steve Scott, president of Pittsburg State University and chair of the Division II Presidents Council. "The number of schools that consistently hit the 90 percent mark illustrates how Division II members continually uphold that commitment."

The Academic Success Rate is the percentage of student-athletes who graduate within six years of initial collegiate enrollment and includes virtually all Division II student-athletes, including transfers and those not receiving athletic scholarships.

The Division II ASR also captures about 51 percent more student-athletes than the federal graduation rate. Unlike the federal rate, the ASR counts non-scholarship student-athletes and those who transfer to a school after initial enrollment elsewhere, while removing student-athletes who leave school while academically eligible. The national ASR is 71 percent for Division II student-athletes who entered college from 2006 through 2009.

Division II student-athletes continue to graduate at a higher rate than the general student body. The federal rate for the 2009 entering class of student-athletes was 56 percent, compared with 49 percent for the general student body.

"We are very proud of our student-athletes, coaches and staff who work tirelessly to make this possible," said Brandi Laurita, director of athletics at the University of Findlay. "We take pride in providing our student-athletes with the resources they need to be successful both athletically and academically at Findlay. This award is a direct reflection upon that commitment."

Academic Success Rate Award Winners

Point Loma Nazarene, 99% ASR
Bentley, 98% ASR
St. Michael's, 98% ASR
Hillsdale, 98% ASR
University of Sciences, 97% ASR
Stonehill, 96% ASR
Seattle Pacific, 96% ASR
Flagler, 94% ASR
Philadelphia, 94% ASR
California-San Diego, 94% ASR
Rockhurst, 93% ASR
Rollins, 93% ASR
Barry, 93% ASR
Assumption, 93% ASR
Indianapolis, 93% ASR
Cedarville, 93% ASR
California Baptist, 92% ASR
Concordia St. Paul, 92% ASR
Eckerd, 92% ASR
Puerto Rico-Bayamon, 91% ASR
Sioux Falls, 91% ASR
Lewis, 91% ASR
Davis & Elkins, 91% ASR
Findlay, 90% ASR
St. Edward's, 90% ASR
Regis, 90% ASR