Southeast grades well in athlete graduation

The school is graduating its athletes at a rate 10 percent higher than that of the overall student body.

By Marty Mishow ~ Southeast Missourian

Southeast Missouri State University athletes had a much higher graduation rate compared to the school's general student population than the national Division I average, according to figures released recently by the NCAA.

According to the NCAA report, based on scholarship athletes who entered college in 1997 and graduated within the six-year window set by the U.S. Department of Education, Southeast graduated 57 percent of its athletes compared to a 47 percent graduation rate for the overall student population.

The national report, covering 328 Division I schools, showed a 62 percent graduation rate by athletes compared to a 60 percent graduation rate for the overall student population.

"We're very pleased with these numbers," Southeast athletic director Don Kaverman said. "It's so tough to compare nationally because the schools are so different, their missions are so different.

"We really have to compare ourselves to our population; we can't compare ourselves to Stanford or schools like that. When we're graduating athletes 10 percent ahead of the overall student body, and the national average is just two percent, I think we have to be pleased with that."

In the 11-member Ohio Valley Conference, only four schools had a higher athletic graduation rate than Southeast's 57 percent. And only three schools graduated their athletes at a higher rate compared to the general student population than Southeast's 10 percent.

The NCAA report showed 70 percent of female athletes who entered Division I colleges on scholarship in 1997 have graduated, compared with 55 percent of the male athletes over the same period. For Southeast, those figures are 60 percent for female athletes and 53 percent for male athletes.

This is the second straight year that Southeast has improved its athletic graduation rate compared to its overall student population.

According to the 2002 NCAA report, using the same six-year window, Southeast athletes and nonathletes both graduated at a 48 percent rate. Last year's report showed 59 percent of Southeast athletes graduating compared to 50 percent for all students.

But Kaverman said those graduation figures don't really tell the true story of how successful Southeast athletes are in receiving their diplomas. Starting next year, the NCAA will also compile separate rates that take transfers into account and do not penalize schools if athletes left in good academic standing.

"That's going to be a very important change because when athletes leave school for whatever reason, maybe to take some time off before enrolling again, or when athletes transfer even though they were good students and end up graduating from another school, that is held against you in these figures," Kaverman said.

Kaverman pointed out Southeast's 85 percent graduation rate among athletes who completed their eligibility at the university, according to the NCAA report based on students who entered school from 1988-89 through 1997-98. The 2000 NCAA report showed Southeast's figure at 73 percent.

"Frankly, that's why we don't focus on the actual number. We focus on the 85 percent who came to Southeast and completed their eligibility," Kaverman said. "Our athletic mission is to graduate and this shows we have been very successful.

"What we can tell people interested in Southeast is that 85 percent of athletes who complete their eligibility here graduate. I'd say when you consider the demands on the athletes' time, that is very impressive."

Kaverman said plenty of people deserve credit for Southeast's athletes graduating at a significantly higher level than the general student population.

"It's a credit to our student athletes, our coaches, our academic advisors," he said. "Despite all the other pressures placed on them, our coaches still emphasize academics. I definitely think it's a success story."

NCAA President Myles Brand apparently agrees, as he told The Associated Press regarding the national Division I figure of 62 percent graduation for athletes and 60 percent graduation for the general student body.

"I say it's a high level because you have to measure it against the general student population," Brand said.

SOUTHEAST GRADUATION RATES

Athletes All students

All Men Women All Men Women

2001 61 43 83 48 40 53

2002 48 42 59 48 41 53

2003 59 47 73 50 43 55

2004 57 53 60 47 45 49

OVC GRADUATION RATES

Athletes All students

All Men Women All Men Women

Austin Peay 59 44 67 32 27 34

Eastern Kentucky 42 38 46 37 31 42

Eastern Illinois 68 62 82 60 52 64

Jacksonville State 50 34 74 37 28 44

Morehead State 54 33 63 44 40 48

Murray State 60 38 86 56 52 59

Samford* 73 62 80 73 70 74

SE MISSOURI ST. 57 53 60 47 45 49

Tenn.-Martin 33 34 29 40 40 39

Tenn. State 50 47 56 45 34 51

Tenn. Tech 55 36 77 41 38 45

* -- Samford is the only private school in the OVC.