OU Sets Graduation Rate Record, Leads Big 12 Conference

University of Oklahoma students athletes achieved a record graduation rate of 74%, leading the Big 12 Conference, the OU Athletics Department announced today. The graduation rate, was announced as part of a national release today by the NCAA.

This NCAA report, which measures the freshman class that entered in 1996, recognizes OU as one of 15 institutions that will receive a $20,000 achievement award sponsored by the USA Today newspaper. The OU rate, which showed a 40% improvement, experienced the greatest increase among all of the I-A schools.

"Our commitment to developing the best environment for student-athlete success is unwavering," said OU Athletics Director Joe Castiglione. "We are encouraged by the improvement of these rates and pleased that we are the leader in the Big 12 Conference. We have a dedicated staff in our student life center and coaches who embrace the importance of the overall experience of being a student-athlete. Most important, we have some 500 student-athletes who work diligently to compete on a national scale while meeting the rigorous demands of a full academic schedule."

OU also announced a record rate in football of 65%, which ranks No. 2 in the Big 12 behind Baylor's 75%. Eleven of 17 football student-athletes graduated. Four of the six who did not had transferred from OU to another school in good academic standing. The Sooner men's basketball team graduated two of the three student-athletes measured in this report for a rate of 67%. The only non-graduate in that trio is currently playing on the professional level.

"The increase and overall rate represent the total support and commitment of the University of Oklahoma to providing student-athletes with every opportunity to complete their degree," said Dr. Gerald Gurney, OU's associate athletics director for student life. "It is clear that student-athletes who come to this university and complete their eligibility will be successful. This rate represents the collective efforts of the student-athletes, the student life staff, the coaches, the athletics department and the university."

Castiglione added that OU remains interested in pending reforms to the graduation rate formula.

"We're very pleased and proud of our progress, but sometimes it takes a number of years for people to realize what good may have been done or is currently being done," he said. "These rates don't often tell the entire story.

Gurney, whose support unit now operates out of the 31,000 square-foot Prentice Gautt Academic Center, said OU's student-athletes recognize the opportunities made availiable by the university.

"This graduating class took advantage of an outstanding facility, dedicated professionals and committed resources," Gurney said. "We had great support in place for them and have since enhanced it with our new facility."

University of Oklahoma Athletics

OU Sets Graduation Rate Record, Leads Big 12 Conference

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