American Football Coaches Association recognizes TCU for academic achievement

Fort Worth, TX

10/28/2008

TCU has been recognized by the American Football Coaches Association for graduating 70 percent or more of its freshman football student-athlete class of 2001.

This year's award marks the first time the NCAA's Graduation Success Rate (GSR) formula has been used. From 1981 to 2007, the award was presented based on a formula used by the College Football Association and AFCA.

The GSR is based on a six-year graduation window for student-athletes which is a change from the five-year window used by the CFA and AFCA. The GSR was developed by the NCAA as part of its academic reform initiative to more accurately assess the academic success of student-athletes. The GSR holds institutions accountable for transfer students, unlike the federal graduation rate. The GSR also accounts for mid-year enrollees.

Under GSR calculation, institutions are not penalized for outgoing transfer students who leave in good academic standing. These outgoing transfers are passed to the receiving institution's GSR cohort. By counting incoming transfer students and mid-year enrollees, the GSR 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 because it is the only rate by which to compare student-athletes to the general student body.