University of Richmond student-athlete graduation success rate is counted among the top 10
Student Experience
Junior Mike Walz juggles a rigorous schedule as a double major in business administration and leadership studies while also playing center for the Spiders basketball team. His ability to manage this hectic pace has landed him on the Dean’s List every semester.
Walz is not alone. The University of Richmond recently achieved one of the highest Graduation Success Rates (GSR) across all Division I athletics, with 98% of its student-athletes graduating within six years — two percent higher than the previous three years. The men’s basketball team is one of 11 Richmond varsity sports programs to achieve a perfect 100 percent Graduation Success Rate. The other sports with a perfect GSR are men’s baseball, cross country, golf, and tennis, and women’s field hockey, cross country/track & field, golf, lacrosse, soccer, and swimming & diving.
The NCAA released the numbers in November, which included student-athletes who entered Richmond from 2014-15 through 2017-18.
Richmond's Graduation Success Rate is tied for sixth highest among Division I institutions, trailing only Harvard, Yale, Columbia, Notre Dame, and Santa Clara. UR, Davidson, and St. Bonaventure were among the 18 schools to record Graduation Success Rates of 98 percent, tied for the best among the 15 schools in the Atlantic 10 conference.
"We're so proud of our record GSR. It really reflects the drive and dedication of our student-athletes in the classroom, along with the support of their families, faculty, and coaches," said Bruce Matthews, Richmond's associate athletics director for academic support and student services.
Student-athletes typically train in the morning for an hour after breakfast, then attend classes for up to 4 hours. They eat when they have a break, attend afternoon practice for about three hours, and then eat dinner. Evenings are for study time. This accounting for time doesn’t include games and travel time, Matthews said, which sometimes means they must miss the occasional class. “We try to manage schedules so that they won’t miss a lot but it is sometimes unavoidable, especially sports with multiple mid-week games.”
The athletes must also find time for proper rest.
“Student-athletes have to hustle to make the most of their days,” Matthews said. “They must learn to manage their time as wisely and as efficiently as possible, even using 15 minutes between classes to review notes and eat.”
Walz, an admitted bookworm, has always prided himself on his success in the classroom — something his parents instilled in him. Some days, though there aren’t enough hours for him to complete all his commitments and he must prioritize.
“I think what’s really helped, especially at a school like Richmond, is strong communication with my professors and letting them know that I might need a bit more flexibility,” Walz said.