Oklahoma State University Athletics
OSU Student-Athlete Graduation Rates Up 20 Percent
October 28, 2004 | General
OSU student-athletes who entered school in Fall 1997 had a graduation rate of 60 percent, compared to a 40 percent rate at the end of the last reporting period in 1996.
The NCAA's 2004 Division I report says the 60 percent graduation rate in OSU athletics compares to 58 percent for the general OSU student body. In addition, OSU's football athletes had a graduation rate of 87 percent. Thirteen of 15 football players who entered as freshmen in 1997 graduated.
This means OSU athletes have moved up to fourth in the Big 12 Conference in graduation rates, overall, and are second only to Baylor in football graduation rates. Baylor football players beat OSU by only one percent.
“This is terrific news because it demonstrates Oklahoma State University is moving in the right direction in creating an environment in which students can participate in sports, while being successful college students and graduating on time," said OSU President and System CEO, Dr. David Schmidly. "This is a tribute to our coaching staff for the emphasis they place on academics with our athletes and the entire university community, especially Dr. Marilyn Middlebrook. “Student success is important to me and I can assure you we intend to build on this positive report."
Middlebrook is OSU's associate athletic director for Student Athletic Academic Services. She says the university has begun several new tutoring and educational programs for athletes, but also has instituted a “culture change” that enables athletes to perform well on the field and in the classroom.
“We constantly emphasize to our young people that their education is as important as their athletic achievement,” says Middlebrook, who took over the department in 1997. “We remind them constantly that they can do both and do them well.”
Middlebrook says tutors and counselors work one-on-one with at-risk students and help them with time management and scheduling.
“Being a student-athlete requires a large commitment of time inside and outside the classroom,” she said. “We stay close and work with our at-risk students to make sure they stay organized. We also individualize everything. Nothing is done by groups. It's not just about one team or another. They're all students. We work with each student in whatever problem areas or strengths he or she may have.”
OSU has had some outstanding academic achievements during Middlebrook's tenure. At the end of the 2003-2004 academic year, 97 percent of OSU's senior student-athletes who exhausted their eligibility had graduated or were set to graduate the following year.
In addition, OSU had 22 individual Academic-All-Americans/Scholar-Athletes, the second highest in the Big 12 Conference. Eight out of the 16 Oklahoma State athletic teams were nationally recognized as All-Academic Teams -- an OSU record.
Ninety-seven OSU student-athletes made the Academic All-Big 12 teams (honoring those with 3.0 grade point averages and higher). It was the highest in OSU's history. Men's Basketball, Men's Golf, Softball and Wrestling either led the Big 12 Conference or tied for first in Academic All-Big 12 selections.
Middlebrook says figures just out indicate next year will also be a good one. Fourteen of 15 OSU football players who entered in 1998 have graduated, and her department is projecting that the general population of student-athletes who entered OSU in Fall 1998 will have a graduation rate of 68 percent.
