CHICAGO – Flames student-athletes achieved a 91% graduation rate in the most recent release of academic success data by the NCAA, the highest in the history of UIC Athletics. A two-point increase over last year's record of 89%, it marks the sixth-consecutive year that UIC has raised its student-athlete graduation rate (82% in 2016 to 91% this year).
 
"Congratulations to our recent graduates on earning their degrees," said Director of Athletics Michael Lipitz. "Flames student-athletes continue to set the standard for academic excellence on campus. We thank our faculty, coaches, and academic services staff for their collective support every step of the way."

Five Flames teams posted perfect 100% graduation rates:  volleyball, men's tennis, women's tennis, women's soccer, and women's swimming and diving. For volleyball, this marks 11 consecutive years graduating 100% of its student-athletes, while women's soccer, women's swimming and diving, and women's tennis all notched perfect results for the third straight year.

UIC Basketball posted strong graduation rates as well, with the women's team at 93% the men's team at 92%.

"The graduation success of our student-athletes is the ultimate indication of commitment to a championship mindset that our Flames population exhibits," said Associate Athletics Director Lisa Hehman. "The entire Student-Athlete Academic Services staff is so proud of our student-athletes and their dedication to accomplish this achievement."

What is the Graduation Success Rate (GSR)?
The NCAA developed the Graduation Success Rate (GSR) in 2002 to more fully reflect the academic achievement of student-athletes.
 
The traditional Federal Graduation Rate (FGR) compiled by the U.S. Department of Education is used as an indicator of academic success for all college students.  For student-athletes, it measures the cohort of first-time, full-time freshman on athletics aid who enter in the fall semester and graduate within six years of entering their original four-year institution.  UIC's Federal Graduation Rate (FGR) for student-athletes is 74%, which is 11 percent higher than UIC's general student population. 

Calculation of the GSR begins with the cohort the federal methodology identifies, but additionally includes student-athletes the federal rate omits -- (1) incoming transfer student-athletes who receive athletics aid, and (2) freshmen on athletics aid who enroll at midyear rather than in fall.  The GSR also does not penalize colleges whose student-athletes transfer in good academic standing, as those student-athletes are effectively moved into the cohort of the destination colleges.