(JACKSON, Miss.) –The NCAA has awarded Jackson State University $900,000 to help enhance the academic outcomes of JSU student-athletes. The funds, which will be dispersed over three years, are part of the NCAA’s Limited-Resource Institutions Grant Program Pilot.
“Jackson State University is thrilled to be selected by the NCAA for this innovative program,” said JSU President Carolyn W. Meyers. “We are committed to ensuring that our student-athletes are just as successful in the classroom as they are in their athletic competitions. This grant will help us build upon the great progress we’ve been making in ensuring academic excellence for all students.”
The NCAA grant will fund JSU’s “930 Initiative,” which aims to build a sustainable program that will improve Academic Progress Rate (APR) outcomes for student-athletes.
“Academic success is everyone’s business,” said Dr. Vivian L. Fuller, JSU’s Director of Athletics. “Jackson State University is committed to building champions for generations to come.”
In recent years, Jackson State has been working to steadily improve Academic Progress Rates, Graduation Success Rates, Federal Graduation Rates, team and division grade point averages and credit hours earned for the student-athletes participating in JSU’s 18 athletic programs. Those efforts have yielded great results, including increased APR scores for the six teams whose single-year APR scores had fallen below 930.
The NCAA-funded pilot program at Jackson State will enhance academic support programs for student-athletes and build upon the system of accountability. Expected outcomes of the “930 Initiative” are increased grade point averages for student-athletes, improved team APR eligibility and retention scores and zero teams falling into the penalty structure.
“As the academic expectations for Division I student-athletes continue to increase, the NCAA is proud to offer assistance to those institutions that have demonstrated need and a plan for using these funds to contribute to student-athlete success,” said NCAA Executive Vice President Dr. Bernard Franklin. “We hope these institutions will serve as a model for other schools as they seek to meet the new APR benchmarks. This pilot program is evidence of the NCAA’s commitment to the achievement of our member institutions and the student-athletes on their campuses.”
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About Jackson State University: Challenging Minds, Changing Lives
Jackson State University, founded in 1877, is a historically black, high research activity university located in Jackson, the capital city of Mississippi. Jackson State’s nurturing academic environment challenges individuals to change lives through teaching, research and service. Officially designated as Mississippi’s Urban University, Jackson State continues to enhance the state, nation and world through comprehensive economic development, health-care, technological and educational initiatives. The only public university in the Jackson metropolitan area, Jackson State is located near downtown, with three satellite campuses throughout the city. For more information, visit www.jsums.edu or call 601-979-2121.