LOUDONVILLE, NY – For the third consecutive year, Siena Athletics achieved a stellar 94% graduation success rate according to the annual NCAA Graduation Success Rate (GSR) Report released Wednesday. The 94% mark matches the department's highest rate in a decade.
"The NCAA's mission is to provide a world-class athletics and academic experience for student-athletes that fosters lifelong well-being," NCAA President Charlie Baker said. "These record graduation rates illustrate the tremendous academic accomplishments of NCAA student-athletes and further emphasize the importance of the national office working with members to create outstanding educational experiences and opportunities for these remarkable young men and women."
The 94% graduation success rate achieved by Siena Athletics equaled the mark from each of the previous two years to match the department's highest rate since recording a 95% success rate in the 2012 report, and outpaced the national Division I new record average of 91% by three points. Siena Athletics has now attained a graduation success rate of 90% or higher in all 19 NCAA reports since the rates were first released annually beginning in 2005.
"Consistently extraordinary scores in the GSR Report don't only reflect a pattern, but represent a culture," said Siena College President Chuck Seifert, Ph.D. "Academic commitment is at the core of our Athletics mission. Our coaches and staff are committed to developing leaders who graduate to become difference makers in their communities. Siena student athletes are true ambassadors of the College, and I'm exceedingly proud of all they accomplish on and off the field of play."
A total of nine Siena Athletics programs posted perfect 100% graduation success rates in the latest report, which reflects the percentage of student athletes who enrolled at Siena College as freshmen in the Fall of 2016 who went on to graduate. Siena Men's Cross Country/Track, Men's Golf, Women's Basketball, Women's Cross Country/Track, Women's Golf, Softball, Swimming and Diving, Women's Tennis, and Volleyball all achieved perfect marks in this year's report.
"An integral part of our Siena Athletics mission of 'Building Better Saints' is to provide our student athletes with 'The Education For a Lifetime' and support them with the resources necessary to cap their time here by walking across the MVP Arena stage with their Siena College degree in hand," said Siena College Vice President/Director of Athletics John D'Argenio. "We are extremely proud to have attained a 90% or higher rate in all 19 years of NCAA reports, and look forward to continuing to develop the leaders of tomorrow."
The NCAA Graduation Success Rate Report gives graduation information for students and student athletes who entered college in 2016, the most recent class for which the required six years of information is available. It also breaks down the GSR by sport, using a four-year class average (2013-16) called a cohort rate to provide a big enough sample.
"As our industry changes on a seemingly daily basis, the one thing that must remain our top priority is graduating our student athletes," said Siena College Senior Associate Athletic Director/Senior Woman Administrator Angie Jabir. "At Siena, our graduation success rate reflects the commitment to and emphasis we put on graduating every student athlete who wears the Saints uniform."
The NCAA developed the GSR because the Federal Graduation Rate (FGR) does not credit institutions with student athletes who leave in good academic standing and go on to graduate, or transfers into the school who graduate. Siena recorded a 75% FGR, with three programs – men's golf, women's tennis, and volleyball – notching unblemished 100% cohort FGR's. The FGR is based on a comparison of the number of students who entered a college or university and the number of those who graduated within six years. For example, for every 100 Siena student athletes entering school from 2013-16, 75 went on to graduate from Siena within six years.
"A primary objective of our Siena Athletics mission is to graduate student athletes," said Siena College Assistant Athletic Director/Advising Sarah Sivertson. "Achieving a 94% graduation success rate is a testament to our dedication to shaping well-rounded individuals who triumph not just in their sport, but also in the classroom and beyond."
