NSU Student-Athletes Maintain Academic Gold Standard with Another Strong Performance

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – Nova Southeastern student-athletes are continually growing the program’s tradition in the arenas of athletic competition, but also have been true champions in maintaining the program’s proud academic expectations through their work in the classroom. Once again, the Sharks have risen to that standard, with the NSU Department of Athletics posting a 3.23 winter semester grade point average department-wide for the second-highest winter semester on record – achieving a 3.22 annual departmental GPA.
 
Of NSU’s 17 NCAA Division II intercollegiate teams, 14 squads posted a 3.0 or higher team GPA, while 73 percent of Sharks student-athletes individually exceeded a 3.00 this semester. Delivering a perfect semester to close out the 2018-19 academic year, 25 student-athletes finished the semester with a perfect 4.0 GPA and 67 Sharks student-athletes graduated during the 2018-19 academic year.
 
“Our Shark student-athletes continue to raise the bar with their impressive performances in the classroom,” Assistant Athletic Director for Academic Services and Student-Athlete Support Rachel Fineberg said. “We have a culture of excellence here at NSU and our student-athletes strive for academic success with the same intensity that they pursue championships. Our athletic administration and coaching staffs are incredibly proud of their achievements!”
 
All nine women’s team GPAs surmounted the 3.00 standard, paced by the women’s swimming team, which posted a 3.54 team GPA in the best semester and academic year to date. The men’s soccer knocked out its best academic year to date with a 3.39 GPA in the winter semester to top all men’s programs.
 
Barely edged out by the swimmers, women’s basketball not only returned to the NCAA Elite Eight, but produced an NCAA Elite 90 winner and its second-best academic year to date, earning a team 3.53 GPA in the winter semester and tying with the women’s golf team.
 
This is the sixth consecutive semester and third year in a row that the NSU student-athletes have posted a 3.20 or better GPA, beginning when the Sharks finished with a record-setting 3.29 departmental GPA in 2016-17.
 
For the 17th consecutive year, NSU Athletics has finished with a 3.0 or higher department GPA dating back to 2002-03 – the first year of NCAA competition. Additionally, for the last seven academic years, NSU student-athletes have earned a 3.15 or better.