Athletics: Ragin’ Cajuns Student-Athletes Set Record GPA In Fall 2014

Nearly 60 percent of student-athletes earned 3.0 or above GPA

LAFAYETTE – Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns student-athletes continued to enjoy unprecedented success in the classroom during the recent Fall 2014 semester as they combined to achieve a semester grade point average of 3.056 – the highest semester GPA in recorded history, in an announcement by school officials on Thursday.

After setting a cumulative record in each semester during the 2013-14 academic year, Ragin’ Cajuns student-athletes marked their ninth consecutive semester of earning a 2.8 GPA or higher while breaking the previous semester record of 2.993 set last spring.

"I am proud of our student-athletes, who continue to exhibit leadership in academics, athletics, and community service," University President Dr. Joseph Savoie said. "Once again, they had an outstanding semester in the classroom. Their success is a testament to our Athletics Department and our coaches’ commitment to their student-athletes."

Ten of the Ragin’ Cajuns 16 NCAA Division I athletic programs posted a combined GPA of 3.0 or higher during the fall 2014 semester with men’s tennis posting a 3.500 average – the highest mark among all varsity sports. Women’s tennis (3.365), soccer (3.279), softball (3.267), baseball (3.233), golf (3.195), women’s cross country (3.149), volleyball (3.094) and women’s track and field (3.009) each posted team GPAs of 3.0 or above with men’s tennis, football (2.923) and men’s track and field (2.829) all recording their highest semester GPAs.

"I am extremely proud of these young men and women in achieving this goal of excelling in the classroom at the same time that they are excelling athletically," Director of Athletics Scott Farmer said. "On a daily basis, our student-athletes put in a considerable amount of time and effort in order to reach their goals of competing at the highest level athletically, as well as in the classroom in order to achieve their goals of receiving a quality education.

"With the tremendous support and encouragement that our student-athletes receive from the Student Athlete Academic Center, our coaches, athletic staff and members of the University community, they are able to accomplish great things academically."

Fifty-eight percent of the Ragin’ Cajuns 409 student-athletes earned a 3.0 or above GPA during the fall semester with 32 earning a 4.0 and 19 earning their respective degrees.

Men’s tennis had 90 percent of its student-athletes – the highest percentage of the Ragin’ Cajuns programs – earn a 3.0 GPA or higher during the fall semester. Women’s tennis (85%), golf (75%), soccer (67%), softball (67%) and baseball (64%) were among six programs where 60 percent or more of its student-athletes earned a 3.0 or above GPA.

A total of 239 student-athletes earned a 3.0 or above GPA during the Fall 2014 semester with football (65) leading the list followed by baseball (29), softball (25), women’s track/cross country (25), soccer (23) and men’s track/cross country (21). Eight members of the women’s track and field/cross country team earned a 4.0 GPA during the fall semester followed by football (6), baseball (5), softball (4) and soccer (4).

"Crossing the 3.0 GPA threshold for the first time in history is a tremendous feat for our student-athletes," Associate Athletics Director for Academics and Compliance Dr. Jessica Leger said. "The mission of the athletics department is to see our student-athletes graduate and working towards this goal is the focal point of everything that we do. Our academic support staff works tirelessly to provide our student-athletes with quality academic support services that aid in accomplishing academic success.

"When nearly 60 percent of our student-athlete population earns a 3.0 GPA or higher, it becomes evident that our student-athletes prioritize and value academics."