Collegiate Times

According to recently released statistics from the NCAA, Virginia Tech athletes posted graduation rates above national averages.

The statistics, released earlier this month, covered graduation data based on both the NCAA's graduation success rate and the Federal government's guidelines for measuring student athlete graduation. The data covered graduation rates from 1997 to 2000.

"We have seen an upward trend in student graduation rates in recent years," said Chris Helm, director of Student Athlete Academic Support Services.

A variety of Tech athletic teams sport high graduation rates in the new statistics. The football team held a 72 percent graduation rate, while the national average for Division I is 66.6 percent. The men's basketball team held a 67 percent graduation rate, while the national average is 63.6 percent. Five teams held a 100 percent graduation rate over the period from 1997 to 2000, including women's volleyball, tennis, soccer, and track, as well as men's soccer.

With five teams that had 100 percent graduation rates, Tech held one of the higher numbers of teams with perfect numbers in Virginia, having more teams than Virginia Commonwealth University (2), Old Dominion University (2), George Mason University (3), and Virginia Military Institute (4), but falling short of the University of Virginia (6), the University of Richmond (7), and James Madison University (7).

For student athletes, there are a variety of options available to them to receive assistance in their classes on their way to graduation. Many student athletes receive help through SAASS, which coordinates study halls for freshmen and struggling athletes, and sets student athletes up with tutors and other resources.

"Our goal is to help students become more successful in the classroom," said Katie Ammons, assistant director for SAASS. "For a lot of student athletes, it's mostly time management that brings difficulties."

Helms credited university administrators and team coaches for the rise in graduation success.

"It's a real tribute to coaches who dedicate themselves to their athletes, and to the administrators which help students obtain the resources to do well in their classes," Helm said.

Even though there has been progress made in student athlete graduation rates, there is still room for improvement.

"We want to see our student athletes graduate," Ammons said.