Academics

[jackphd]

On page 60 of the football media guide there is some information that deserves recognition on this board (and across South Dakota, for that matter). The cumulative GPAs of SDSU athletic teams are highlighted in the guide, which I can tell you is something you won't see at many universities. Here's what it says:

Cumulative GPA by team (through Spring 2006)

Men's sports

Baseball: 2.83
Basketball: 2.80
Cross country: 3.21
Football: 2.90
Golf: 3.01
Swimming: 2.89
Tennis: 2.94
Track and Field: 3.13
Wrestling: 2.63

Women's sports

Basketball: 3.68
Cross Country: 3.69
Equestrian: 3.29
Golf: 3.49
Soccer: 3.38
Softball: 3.23
Swimming: 3.12
Tennis: 3.19
Volleyball: 3.20

As a professor at SDSU, I run into many student athletes in my classes (I teach a large, gen-ed class, among other things) and I can testify to the quality of the vast majority of these students. We have all heard about the outstanding academics of our WBB team, but it's nice to see that good academic performance cuts across all of the sports offered here.

Other tidbits:

Overall average for the 412 student athletes at SDSU: 3.09
Graduation rate for student athletes: 71 percent (17 percent higher than the student body at large)
Perfect 4.0 GPAs among student athletes: 15
3.5 to 3.99: 86

It's really a stellar record and the students and their parents should be very proud. And let's give credit to the coaches and administrators who set the tone as well.

[jackmd]

Re: Academics

This kind of information needs to be out there for everyone to see. Those of us who attended SDSU and experienced the quality of fellow students and instructors recognize that quality education directed towards the mission of the states land grant institution is first and foremost at SDSU. A DI athletic affiliation will only strengthen that commitment.