Colorado University Athletics
Spring Semester Success!
June 03, 2020 | General, Herbst Academic Center
Student-Athletes Score Impressive Grade Point Average Marks
BOULDER – The grades are in, and University of Colorado student-athletes worked through the turmoil of the COVID-19 pandemic as well or even better than expected, recording impressive semester and cumulative grade point averages in statistics compiled by CU's Herbst Academic Center staff.
The grade point average for the recently completed spring 2020 semester for all 338 CU student-athletes was 3.491, while the cumulative grade point was 3.111. Those numbers were new highs in both categories, topping the bests set in the 2019 spring semester of 3.004 for a term, fall or spring, and 3.024 for the cumulative GPA, respectively.
It marked the 12th straight semester for the grade point to exceed 2.9 (out of 13 total overall), and all 15 teams posted GPA's above 3.0 for the spring semester (in actuality, all 3.24 or higher). Thirteen teams have a cumulative GPA above 3.0, including a nine women's programs (a reminder that indoor and outdoor track count as one squad). All semester numbers were increases from those for the spring a year ago as well as from last fall.
While one reason for the upsurge in the averages was the university allowing for more flexibility in students deciding to take a class on a pass/fail basis, that shouldn't take away from what they accomplished for the spring semester overall dealing with the pandemic.
"I couldn't be prouder of our student-athletes and the manner in which they responded during one of, if not, the most challenging times in their lives," athletic director Rick George said. "Things changed swiftly literally at the midway point of the semester right around midterms, many decided to leave Boulder and live at home and then they had to adjust to remote learning. That's a credit to them and our dedicated staff in the Herbst Academic Center. I'd also be remiss if we didn't recognize the faculty, most of whom were teaching remotely for the first time in their careers but they made it work. It was truly the combined effort of many and the students responded and saw the semester through by posting those outstanding numbers."
In addition to the GPA numbers, 40 student-athletes across all programs graduated in May.
"There are a lot of skills that athletes learn as a result of training and competition," said Kris Livingston, CU's Associate Athletic Director for Student Success. "We saw a number of these skills, such as collaboration, organization, focus, flexibility, and persistence transfer to their academics in the spring semester. Things shifted so quickly, and everyone was affected. The students, Herbst Academic Center staff, and faculty were all learning, changing, and adapting at the same time. The grades that the student-athletes earned are quite remarkable. I am really proud of the enormous effort and resilience of the students and the Herbst Academic Center staff to stay on track and succeed while facing adversity."
For the spring semester, 316 student-athletes owned grade points over 2.5 (93 percent), 280 over 3.0 (83%) and 171 over 3.5 (51%); 52 student-athletes recorded perfect 4.0 semesters. Overall, cumulatively speaking, 284 students are at or above 2.50 (84%), with 204 at 3.0 or higher (60%) and 93 at or eclipsing 3.50 (28%). While all seven percentages represent record highs since the numbers have been tracked starting in 1996, they won't be recorded as official records with the higher number of classes that were taken pass/fail due to the pandemic and the subsequent quick implementation of remote learning.
The women's tennis team posted the best term GPA (3.778) while the women's cross country team recorded the best cumulative (3.519) number. The women's ski team enjoyed its 38th semester in succession with a GPA of at least 3.0, the streak of 19 years dating back to the fall '01 term. In fact, coach Richard Rokos' women's skiers have had 48 of a possible 49 semesters above 3.0 since the spring of 1996 when charting began; it's only exception came in the 2001 spring session, when the GPA barely missed the mark with a 2.989.
The women's cross country team had a semester average of 3.730, its 32nd straight semester with a 3.0 or better, the equivalent of 16 straight years dating back to the fall '04 term. Thirteen of the 15 programs recorded semester-best GPA's, including men's basketball (3.310) and football (3.240), both eclipsing the 3.0 plateau for the first time. A closer look, team-by-team:
The grade point average for the recently completed spring 2020 semester for all 338 CU student-athletes was 3.491, while the cumulative grade point was 3.111. Those numbers were new highs in both categories, topping the bests set in the 2019 spring semester of 3.004 for a term, fall or spring, and 3.024 for the cumulative GPA, respectively.
It marked the 12th straight semester for the grade point to exceed 2.9 (out of 13 total overall), and all 15 teams posted GPA's above 3.0 for the spring semester (in actuality, all 3.24 or higher). Thirteen teams have a cumulative GPA above 3.0, including a nine women's programs (a reminder that indoor and outdoor track count as one squad). All semester numbers were increases from those for the spring a year ago as well as from last fall.
While one reason for the upsurge in the averages was the university allowing for more flexibility in students deciding to take a class on a pass/fail basis, that shouldn't take away from what they accomplished for the spring semester overall dealing with the pandemic.
"I couldn't be prouder of our student-athletes and the manner in which they responded during one of, if not, the most challenging times in their lives," athletic director Rick George said. "Things changed swiftly literally at the midway point of the semester right around midterms, many decided to leave Boulder and live at home and then they had to adjust to remote learning. That's a credit to them and our dedicated staff in the Herbst Academic Center. I'd also be remiss if we didn't recognize the faculty, most of whom were teaching remotely for the first time in their careers but they made it work. It was truly the combined effort of many and the students responded and saw the semester through by posting those outstanding numbers."
In addition to the GPA numbers, 40 student-athletes across all programs graduated in May.
"There are a lot of skills that athletes learn as a result of training and competition," said Kris Livingston, CU's Associate Athletic Director for Student Success. "We saw a number of these skills, such as collaboration, organization, focus, flexibility, and persistence transfer to their academics in the spring semester. Things shifted so quickly, and everyone was affected. The students, Herbst Academic Center staff, and faculty were all learning, changing, and adapting at the same time. The grades that the student-athletes earned are quite remarkable. I am really proud of the enormous effort and resilience of the students and the Herbst Academic Center staff to stay on track and succeed while facing adversity."
For the spring semester, 316 student-athletes owned grade points over 2.5 (93 percent), 280 over 3.0 (83%) and 171 over 3.5 (51%); 52 student-athletes recorded perfect 4.0 semesters. Overall, cumulatively speaking, 284 students are at or above 2.50 (84%), with 204 at 3.0 or higher (60%) and 93 at or eclipsing 3.50 (28%). While all seven percentages represent record highs since the numbers have been tracked starting in 1996, they won't be recorded as official records with the higher number of classes that were taken pass/fail due to the pandemic and the subsequent quick implementation of remote learning.
The women's tennis team posted the best term GPA (3.778) while the women's cross country team recorded the best cumulative (3.519) number. The women's ski team enjoyed its 38th semester in succession with a GPA of at least 3.0, the streak of 19 years dating back to the fall '01 term. In fact, coach Richard Rokos' women's skiers have had 48 of a possible 49 semesters above 3.0 since the spring of 1996 when charting began; it's only exception came in the 2001 spring session, when the GPA barely missed the mark with a 2.989.
The women's cross country team had a semester average of 3.730, its 32nd straight semester with a 3.0 or better, the equivalent of 16 straight years dating back to the fall '04 term. Thirteen of the 15 programs recorded semester-best GPA's, including men's basketball (3.310) and football (3.240), both eclipsing the 3.0 plateau for the first time. A closer look, team-by-team:
| Team | Spring GPA | Cumulative |
| Men's Basketball | 3.310 | 2.742 |
| Women's Basketball | 3.500 | 3.083 |
| Men's Cross Country | 3.251 | 3.025 |
| Women's Cross Country | 3.730 | 3.519 |
| Football | 3.240 | 2.758 |
| Men's Golf | 3.625 | 3.154 |
| Women's Golf | 3.751 | 3.447 |
| Women's Lacrosse | 3.676 | 3.470 |
| Men's Skiing | 3.628 | 3.403 |
| Women's Skiing | 3.559 | 3.335 |
| Women's Soccer | 3.652 | 3.311 |
| Women's Tennis | 3.778 | 3.344 |
| Men's Track & Field | 3.278 | 3.026 |
| Women's Track & Field | 3.601 | 3.384 |
| Women's Volleyball | 3.634 | 3.274 |
| All Varsity Sports | 3.491 | 3.111 |
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