MACOMB, Ill.  -  Eleven Western Illinois University Intercollegiate Athletic programs scored 80 percent or better in the most recent Graduation Success Rate (GSR) data released by the NCAA.

The Fighting Leatherneck volleyball program, led by head coach Kym McKay and Western Illinois' women's swimming and diving program, led by head coach Greg Naumann, boasted perfect 100 percent GSR scores. Both the volleyball and women's swimming and diving programs were the highest scoring teams in their respective sports in The Summit League.

In all, eleven of Western's programs scored above 80 percent: women's basketball, women's cross country/track and field, women's soccer, softball, volleyball, women's swimming and diving, baseball, men's cross country/track and field, men's soccer, women's golf, and men's swimming and diving.

The Western Illinois Athletic Department achieved its highest GPA in history after the spring 2009 semester, as the 3.01 average GPA for student-athletes exceeded that of the overall Western Illinois student GPA of 2.91. Nearly 10 percent (9.73%) of student-athletes earned a perfect 4.00 GPA and over 60 percent (60.26%) earned 3.00 GPA or better, helping athletics surpass a 3.00 overall average for the first time in school history.  In addition, nearly one-fourth of student-athletes (24.73%) earned University Semester Honors, which is a GPA equivalent to a 3.60 or better.

The volleyball program led the department with the highest GPA for the spring 2009 semester with a 3.65 GPA. The men's golf program's 3.12 GPA was the highest of any men's program on campus.

“The student-athletes continue to exceed expectations, not only for the Athletic Department, but also for the university,” Director of Athletics Dr. Tim Van Alstine said. "The hard work on the part of the student athletes is not a solo effort, but a department effort, as our coaches and staff have a done a tremendous job in recruiting the right character and holding the students to a high standard."   

Western's federal graduation rate for the 1999-2002 classes was 64 percent, which was significantly higher than the WIU general student body graduation rate of 56 percent and higher than the Division I national average of 63 percent.

About the GSR
Graduation Success Rate scores released are based on four entering freshman classes of scholarship student-athletes who entered college from 1999-2000 through 2002-2003.

The NCAA allows a six-year window in which student-athletes can earn their degree. Although GSR scores include student-athletes who transferred to Western Illinois, the scores do not count student-athletes who transferred from WIU to another institution and were academically eligible at the time of their transfer.

The NCAA developed the Graduation Success Rate as part of its academic reform initiative to more accurately assess the academic success of student-athletes. The rate holds institutions accountable for transfer students, unlike the federal graduation rate. The Graduation Success Rate also accounts for midyear enrollees and is calculated for every sport.

Under the calculation, institutions are not penalized for outgoing transfer students who leave in good academic standing. By counting incoming transfer students and midyear enrollees, the Graduation Success Rate increases the total number of student-athletes tracked for graduation by more than 37 percent. The NCAA also calculates the federal graduation rate for student-athletes. It is the only rate by which to compare student-athletes to the general student body.