March 25, 2002

The University of Connecticut is one of only 20 members on the inaugural U.S. News & World Report College Sports Honor Roll.

The list, announced in the March 18 issue of the national news magazine, rated all 321 Division I colleges in the NCAA. In compiling the list, the magazine's researchers gathered data on each university's efforts to attain gender equity; each school's win/loss record in school-to-school competitions (baseball, basketball, football, etc.) and "tournament" sports, such as golf, tennis, wrestling, crew and other sports that usually have several schools compete with each other; athletes' graduation rates compared to the school's overall graduation rate; and the number of varsity sports offered at each institution.

"We work very hard to offer our student-athletes a well-rounded experience," says Lew Perkins, director of athletics. "We're very pleased that our student-athletes, coaches, and the University have been recognized for achievements in the classroom as well as our athletic prowess. It's a great honor to be recognized for both, and shows you can be successful in athletics and academics."

UConn fared well across the board, says Robert Morse, director of data research at U.S. News & World Report. UConn finished among the top 10 percent of schools in the nation in the gender equity category (51 percent of the athletes at UConn are women, compared to 53 percent of the overall student body); in the top 15 percent of schools in terms of school-to-school winning percentage (60.8 percent); in the top 20 percent in number of sports offered (22 are offered); and in the top 35 percent in athletes' graduation rates. The average of the four categories, Morse said, put UConn in the top 20.

The rankings are based on information from the year that ended June 30, 2001.

Other New England schools on the honor roll are the universities of Massachusetts and New Hampshire. The list also includes five Ivy League schools, as well as Stanford, Boston College, Georgetown, Duke and the University of Michigan.