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If the Big 12 Conference gave out a trophy for academic success, Baylor would be the back-to-back-to-back-to-back-to-back champions.
For the fifth consecutive year, Baylor student-athletes are tops in the Big 12 in Graduation Success Rate (GSR). Baylor’s overall score of 90 led all other Big 12 institutions, continuing a streak of excellence that has seen the Bears finish either first or second in GSR 10 times in the last 12 years. Six Baylor programs — football, men’s golf, women’s golf, soccer, softball and women’s tennis — posted the top scores in the Big 12 in their sport.
GSR was created as an alternative to the federal graduation rate, designed to provide a more thorough and accurate assessment of student-athlete academic performance. For instance, GSR holds institutions accountable for transfer students, where the federal graduation rate does not. Outgoing students who transfer in good academic standing also do not penalize institutions in GSR. (Baylor has fared well in both statistics; this year, Baylor’s federal graduation rate is up four points to 70%, tying Iowa State for first place in the Big 12. Overall, the Bears have finished either first or second in the conference in federal graduation rate 12 times in the conference’s 23 years of existence.)
Results like these are not accidents. If you’ve heard Director of Athletics Mack Rhoades talk about his vision for Baylor Athletics, you’ve likely heard him talk about “preparing champions for life” and his four-pillared process for success that begins with academic achievement as the first pillar.
We’ve seen Baylor student-athletes excel on the field repeatedly; Big 12 titles like these remind us that they’re forging excellence in the classroom, too.
Sic ’em, Baylor student-athletes!
