The NCAA Academic Success Rate is out and once again spells good news for Goldey-Beacom Athletics, which recorded a 91-percent mark for its highest in the College's 20 years as a member of Division II.
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Overall, it is a three-point increase for the department from last year and significantly higher than the 76 percent average from all NCAA Division II schools.
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The ASR and the Federal Graduation Rate (FGR) are metrics that NCAA Division II colleges use to measure the retention, persistence and graduation of student-athletes. The ASR typically is seen as a more accurate representation of academic success, since the FGR only includes scholarship athletes who began their enrollment at the College as freshmen. Whereas the ASR includes all student-athletes, including transfers who leave the College in good academic standing.
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"The unprecedent level of success we're seeing in these metrics is something that makes me most proud," Director of Athletics Jeremy Benoit said. "We always strive to compete on playing surface, but the most important thing is that our athletes go out and compete in the classrooms to position themselves for life after athletics.  The fact that we're doing that to the effect of being in the top 10 percent of all in Division II says a lot about our athletes', department's and institution's commitment to that idea."
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By the Numbers
- The 91 percent puts Goldey-Beacom into a tie for 28th among over 300 NCAA Division II schools and fourth outright in the 12-team Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference.
- Men's golf, women's tennis and women's cross country/track & field all achieved ASRs of 100 percent, ending tied for seventh in the CACC with three programs.
- Goldey-Beacom is one of five CACC schools to earn the Presidents' Award for having an ASR of at least 90 percent (Caldwell, Chestnut Hill, Holy Family, Jefferson).
- Goldey-Beacom saw 49 of its student-athletes named to the CACC Academic Honor Roll and 35 picked to the College Sports Communicators (formerly CoSIDA) All-District Team.
- Goldey-Beacom in its history has six named CSC Academic All-America, 56 picked CSC Academic All-District and eight tabbed winners of the CACC Top XVI Award for having the top GPA at the finals site of each conference championship.
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"While I love watching our Bolts win in their athletic contests, what I really love is their success in the classroom," Goldey-Beacom President Dr. Colleen Perry Keith said. "Athletic success is one thing, but academic success that leads to a career credential and life success is what we want for our students. We have a great environment at GBC for student athletes to do both."
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"Our coaching staffs recruit high-caliber student-athletes who are committed to both excellence in the classroom and their sport," Goldey-Beacom Associate Director of Athletics/Senior Woman Administrator/Women's Basketball Coach Bethann Burke said. Â "Goldey-Beacom's small class environment encourages academic growth and challenges students to think critically, in an inclusive environment. Â We're so proud of our student-athletes academic success and grateful for our faculty and staff's hard work in assisting them."
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