SSC Boasts Top Academic Success Rate With UT Tennis Leading Way

ORLANDO, Fla. - The Sunshine State Conference has posted the top NCAA Division II Academic Success Rate for the fifth straight year. The University of Tampa tennis team was among the top performers as it posted a 100 percent Academic Success Rate (ASR).

The Academic Success Rate (ASR) for all 22 Division II conferences was released at the NCAA Convention, which was held in Indianapolis, Ind., Jan. 11-14. SSC member institutions posted an ASR of 86 percent to again lead all conferences. The Northest-10 Conference placed second in the rankings with an ASR of 85 percent. The leagues have claimed the top two spots in the conference-by-conference comparison each year since the ASR performance rankings were first released in January 2008.

"The fact that our conference has posted the top ASR in all of Division II for the past five years is a tremendous source of pride for the SSC," Commissioner Jay Jones said. "This accomplishment speaks to the dedication of the student-athletes and administrators throughout our league. Our student-athletes are a testament of the good that exists in college sports, as they exhibit dedication to winning championships and excelling academically."

Data for the 2011 version of the ASR was compiled by following the progress of the 2001-04 cohort. The national four-year ASR for all DII student-athletes increased one point to 72 percent. SSC student-athletes performed well above that average, posting an 86 percent ASR.

A number of SSC teams posted a perfect 100 percent Academic Success Rate, and each member institution had at least one program sport a perfect mark. They included:
- Barry softball and women's tennis;
- Eckerd men's basketball and softball;
- Florida Tech men's cross country, men's and women's golf, women's soccer, and women's tennis;
- Florida Southern men's and women's tennis;
- Lynn men's basketball, women's golf, softball, and women's tennis;
- Nova Southeastern women's cross country, rowing, and women's golf;
- Rollins men's and women's cross country, men's and women's swimming, women's basketball, women's golf, women's soccer, women's tennis, and volleyball;
- Saint Leo men's swimming; and
- Tampa women's tennis.

Along with the Division I Graduation Success Rate (GSR), the ASR is a tool used by the NCAA to measure the academic progress of student-athletes competing within the Association. The NCAA developed the Division II ASR at the request of college and university presidents who believed the federal graduation rate was flawed. Both the Division I GSR and the DII ASR take into account transfer students. However, given the partial-scholarship model of Division II, the ASR also includes student-athletes not receiving athletically-related financial aid. The ASR also removes students from the cohort who left the institution while academically eligible to compete.

Top Ten NCAA Division II ASR Conferences
1. Sunshine State Conference - 86%
2. Northeast-10 Conference - 85%
3. East Coast Conference - 81%
T4. Conference Carolinas - 79%
T4. Great Lakes Valley Conference - 79%
6. Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference - 78%
T7. Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference - 76%
T7. Great Northwest Athletic Conference - 76%
9. Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference - 74%
10. Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference - 73%