The academic scoreboard shows an upward trend in Wichita State University's athletic department. Congratulations to the student-athletes graduating this spring who contributed.
 
The cumulative grade-point-average of 3.3 over the past three semesters represents a high mark for the department and its 15 NCAA sports. The department set a goal of reaching a 3.0 and then continued to build on that success.
 
"Coaches have an expectation, especially now that we've reached the threshold of a 3.3," said Gretchen Torline, director of athletic academic services. "It absolutely has to do with our relationship with our student-athletes. We're engaged with them, and they buy in to what we're trying to teach them here and how important it is."
 
In May 2021, the most recent NCAA data available, indicated a 90 percent Graduation Success Rate for Wichita State, also a high for the department. Wichita State's GSR improved from 81 percent for the 2009-10 class to its current high for the four-year average.
 
Nine Wichita State programs registered at least an 86 percent GSR, with four programs achieving a perfect 100 percent.  Women's tennis posted a perfect four-year GSR score for the eleventh year in a row, meaning for a four-year average, all student-athletes either graduated or left the program in good academic standing.  The men's golf team posted a perfect four-year GSR score for the fifth year in a row and the women's golf team for the fourth year in a row. The softball team posted a perfect four-year GSR score for the third year in a row.  This year's numbers reflect a four-year average for students who entered college from 2011-12 through 2014-15.
 
The athletic department has achieved a GSR score of 80 percent or above every year for the last 13 years.  Seven out of 11 Wichita State programs with scores posted 90 percent GSR rates or higher.
 
The Federal Graduation Rate data was also released.  The data showed that Wichita State student-athletes entering in the 2014-15 academic year achieved a 66-percent rate, compared to the general student body, which had a 48-percent graduation rate.  
 
For the 2020-21 school year, 197 Wichita State student-athletes earned a spot on the American Athletic Conference All-Academic Team. Nominees must carry at least a 3.0 GPA.
 
Since joining the conference in 2017, Wichita State earned Team Academic Excellence Awards in volleyball (2017), men's golf (2020, 2021), men's indoor track and field (2020) and men's outdoor track and field (2020).
 
Shockers volleyball student-athlete Mikaela Raudsepp was named Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year for 2017-18.