DIVISION II MEANS
academic
excellence
Division II’s academic philosophy
calls for a comprehensive program of
learning and development in a personal
setting. Division II established an
“Academic Success Rate” in 2006,
which, unlike the federal graduation
rate, measures graduation outcomes for
student-athletes who are not receiving
athletically related financial aid. In
addition, the Division II rate includes
transfer student-athletes and midyear
enrollees in the cohort, whereas the
federal graduation rate does not. With
those additional criteria, the Division II
cohort includes about 60 percent more
student-athletes than the federal study.
DIVISION II GRADUATION RATES (2004-07 COHORTS)
Student body
Student-athlete
Category
Federal rate
Federal rate
ASR
Division II overall 48% 55% 71%
Division II men 44% 48% 64%
Division II women 51% 64% 84%
“When I talk to parents, I focus on the academic piece. The smaller
campus is a plus – we’re not so small that you’re running into the same
people everywhere you go, but we’re not so large that you get lost in the
shuffle. Our instructors are going to know if our student-athletes are in
class and will inform our coaches if the kids aren’t there.”
WINONA STATE
ATHLETICS
– Eric Schoh, Director of Athletics,
Winona State University
DID YOU KNOW?
D
ivision II athletics programs
actively engage with their
communities, which helps drive
attendance at athletics contests,
fosters relationships between
student-athletes and community
members and develops more of a
shared civic experience. Community
engagement also strengthens the
bond among teammates and fosters
individual and personal growth.
Division II is nationally known for
its long-standing commitment to
the Make-A-Wish Foundation,
which grants wishes to children
with life-threatening illnesses.
The Division II Student-Athlete
Advisory Committee, which is the
primary student-based group that
contributes to policy-making for the
division, established the Make-AWish partnership in 2003.
n
The Make-A-Wish Foundation
regards the Division II SAAC as one
of its largest and most consistent
contributors.
n
Division II has raised more than
$3 million toward granting the wishes
of children with life-threatening
medical conditions.
n
Almost 300 “wishes” have
been granted through Division II
contributions. The fulfillment of these
wishes can serve as a game-changer
in children’s fights against their
illnesses, helping them feel better,
and in some cases, even get better.