Northwestern University Athletics
Northwestern Receives AFCA Academic Achievement Award Again
5/17/2007 12:00:00 AM | Football
May 17, 2007
EVANSTON, Ill. -- For the fourth time in the last six years, Northwestern University will receive the American Football Coaches Association's Academic Achievement Award, which is presented annually by the Touchdown Club of Memphis.
Northwestern is sharing the honor this year with the University of Notre Dame. Both schools recorded a 95 percent graduation rate for their freshman classes of 2001-02.
Northwestern's win is the fifth for the school. Northwestern was also honored in 1998, 2002, 2004 and 2005. The school also has earned honorable mention honors five times since Big Ten schools became eligible for the award for the first time in 1998.
"This is an award that Northwestern takes great pride in," Northwestern Head Coach Pat Fitzgerald said. "First and foremost, our student-athletes work hard on and off the field, and realize the value of a Northwestern degree. We also have a tremendous support system, led by our academic services department, that allows a Northwestern student-athlete to reach his potential in the classroom."
Thirty-two other institutions will be recognized for graduating 70 percent or more of their football student-athletes. Two of those institutions achieved a rate of 90 percent or better: Duke and Vanderbilt. The remaining 30 institutions are: Alabama, Arkansas State, Ball State, Baylor, Boston College, Bowling Green, Cincinnati, Connecticut, Florida, Indiana, Iowa, Louisiana Tech, Miami (Ohio), Mississippi State, Nebraska, North Carolina, Ohio, Penn State, Rice, Rutgers, Syracuse, Texas, TCU, Texas Tech, Toledo, Troy, Virginia, Virginia Tech, Washington State and Wisconsin.
The overall graduation rate of the 107 schools that responded to the survey was 60 percent, surpassing the mark of 58 percent in each of the previous two years. Fifty-two of the members responding were above the average and 55 were below the average. The median graduation rate was 59 percent, compared to 57 percent for the last two years. The 107 respondents to this year's survey is a record high. One hundred and four schools replied in 2006.
The study involves the freshman class from the academic year of 2001-02, including those who entered at that time but who did not receive financial aid until after their initial year, or who transferred from another institution and subsequently received a grant-in-aid.
Most Awards: Since 1998, when Northwestern became eligible for the honor, the Wildcats have won five awards, the most of any Football Bowl Subdivision school. Since the program began in 1981, Duke has won or shared the Academic Achievement Award 12 times. Notre Dame is second with seven awards and Northwestern is third with five.
For more information on the AFCA, log on to the AFCA's web site at American Football Coaches Association.
