The academic progress rates of Syracuse University’s athletic teams are on par with other schools in the Atlantic Coast Conference, according to a report presented at University Senate’s Wednesday meeting.

“We compare strongly with those of our new league, which is arguably a stronger academic league than the Big East is,” said Don Siegel, chair of the senate Committee on Athletic Policy.

Siegel said the committee’s mission is to create more collaboration between athletics and academic affairs. In doing so, the committee hopes student-athletes will have the tools necessary to meet the academic guidelines provided by the NCAA.

Despite the academic success of athletic teams overall, there are two teams that aren’t so academically strong: men’s basketball and men’s soccer, he said.

The athletic department’s cumulative GPA is at a 3.09, with 2.90 for men’s teams and 3.21 for women’s teams. The men’s basketball team averages at a 2.65, while the men’s soccer team averages slightly higher at a 2.86.

“At least with basketball, those students tend to leave early to become professionals, which pays into the calculation,” Siegel said.

The athletic department’s graduation rates are also consistent with other ACC teams, he said. In a comparison of graduation rates from SU and ACC teams from 2002-2005, SU’s graduation rates were equal or higher.

The one exception is the men’s basketball team, which the athletes leave to join professional teams prior to graduation.

Siegel said he was pleased with the committee’s findings, especially considering the transition to the ACC.

“I think from the statistics we’ve gotten so far, it looks like we’ll be able to compete on quite a few levels, certainly intellectually,” he said.

Published on October 10, 2013 at 1:55 am

Contact Marwa: meltagou@syr.edu | @marwaeltagouri