CU Student-Athletes Post Several Academic Bests

BOULDER - University of Colorado student-athletes posted another solid semester in the classroom, recording their best-ever semester grade point average in the information compiled by CU's Herbst Academic Center staff.

The grade point average for the fall 2014 semester for all 344 CU student-athletes was 2.961, while the cumulative grade point was 2.931. It was the best semester GPA, fall or spring, on record, surpassing the 2.935 average for the Spring '12 term and previous fall best of 2.898 last year.

In addition, 13 of the 15 programs (indoor and outdoor track are combined) improved their semester grade points from the spring and 11 saw their cumulative averages rise. Ten teams boasted grade points of 3.0 or better for the semester (two others between 2.965-2.983), tying the most ever, with a record 10 also sporting a cumulative grade point besting the 3.0 mark.

"We're proud of our student-athletes as they continue to shine in the classroom," said Kris Livingston, CU's Associate Athletic Director for Student Success. "Combining academics and athletics at the Division I level is not as easy as some might think. It takes a big commitment and many sacrifices by the student-athletes to succeed in both."

For the fall semester, 268 student-athletes owned grade points over 2.5 (78 percent, which is also a record), 179 over 3.0 (52%, the first time half are over 3.0) and 83 over 3.5 (24%, also a best); 13 student-athletes recorded perfect 4.0 semesters. Overall, cumulatively speaking, 273 students are at or above 2.50 (79%), with 161 at 3.0 or higher (47%) and 72 at or eclipsing 3.50 (21%), with all three new highs.

The women's ski team posted the best term (3.611) and cumulative (3.595) numbers; it now has 27 straight semesters with a 3.0 or better and two back-to-back over 3.6. Women's cross country (21 consecutive semesters over 3.0), women's tennis, men's cross country, men's skiing, women's soccer and women's golf were all over 3.2 in either one or both categories; the tennis team jumped from 2.950 to 3.447, its best fall term on record.

Football, with its eighth straight term at 2.5 or above, recorded its best cumulative GPA (2.703) since the information was first compiled in 1992. And the fledgling women's lacrosse team, in just its second year of existence, enjoyed its first semester achieving a 3.0 or better (3.179).

"The staff members in the Herbst Academic Center put in countless hours providing support and resources while pushing and encouraging the students," Livingston added. "However, we would be unable to do our jobs if we didn't have support from the coaches."

A closer look, team-by-team (#'indicates average higher than at the end of the Spring '14 semester):

Team Fall GPA Cum. GPA

Men's Basketball 2.519# 2.538#

Women's Basketball 3.050# 3.028#

Men's Cross Country 3.294# 3.015#

Women's Cross Country 3.211 3.362

Football 2.615# 2.703#

Men's Golf 2.740# 2.845

Women's Golf 3.229# 3.285#

Women's Lacrosse 3.179# 3.040#

Men's Skiing 3.326# 3.282

Women's Skiing 3.611# 3.595#