UConn Advance - March 12, 2007 - Athletics recognized for degree completion, community service

The Division of Athletics has been recognized nationally for its student-athletes’ success in completing their degrees and performing community service.

The National Consortium for Academics and Sports (NCAS) has added UConn to its Degree Completion and Community Service honor rolls for the 2005-06 school year.

It is the second time and second consecutive year that UConn has received the honor.

The award was presented on Feb. 20, during the NCAS Annual Conference in Orlando. UConn was one of 30 schools to appear on the Degree Completion Honor Roll, and one of only 21 that made both lists.

The Degree Completion Honor Roll recognizes schools that brought back student-athletes who had previously left school to complete their degrees and/or continued tuition assistance for student-athletes whose eligibility had expired without completing their degrees.

The honor roll is made up of member schools that did this for a combined total of 10 or more student-athletes during the academic year 2005-06. UConn reported 19 such cases.

The Outreach and Community Service Honor Roll for 2005-06 recognized 36 schools, including UConn, whose student-athletes contributed to the lives of 2,000 or more youth in their communities.

UConn’s student-athletes reached more than three times that number of young people.

“This award signifies that UConn is among the most outstanding NCAS member institutions,” says Richard Lapchick, director of NCAS, recognizing “stellar leadership for the student-athletes at UConn.”

UConn student-athletes have also recently achieved individual academic success.

For the academic year 2005-06, approximately 40 percent of UConn’s student-athletes earned at least a 3.0 grade point average in either the fall or spring semester, or both semesters.

Thirteen student-athletes earned a perfect 4.0 grade point average in either the spring or fall semester, while one achieved a perfect 4.0 in both semesters.

More than half of UConn’s 24 intercollegiate teams enjoyed a 3.0 squad grade point average during the 2006 spring semester.

“The University of Connecticut is proud to have again been recognized by the National Consortium for Academics and Sports,” says Jeff Hathaway, director of athletics.

“The primary mission of UConn’s Division of Athletics is for our student-athletes to earn their undergraduate degree. The NCAS program is a great asset in helping achieve that goal and we are very pleased to be recognized for this important educational initiative. In addition, we are also firm believers that community service is a key part of the learning experience for our student-athletes. We are delighted that our institution has been recognized for the efforts we have made in that area.”